Ben Affleck will play Batman in an upcoming sequel to this summer's hit "Man of Steel" Warner Bros. announced on Thursday, according to People.
For the first time, the Caped Crusader will join forces with Superman, again to be played by British actor Henry Cavill, in the as-yet-untitled movie to be directed by "Man of Steel's" Zack Snyder. "Man of Steel" made more than $649 million worldwide.
"We knew we needed an extraordinary actor to take on one of DC Comics' most enduringly popular super heroes, and Ben Affleck certainly fits that bill and then some," Warner Bros. president Greg Silverman said in a statement, according to People.
According to Entertainment Weekly, the mash-up will begin production next year and be released July 17, 2015. Man of Steel stars Amy Adams (as Lois Lane), Laurence Fishburne (Perry White) and Diane Lane (Martha Kent) have also been announced to return.
The New York Post reported that Dark Knight trilogy Batman, Christian Bale, turned down $50 million to put the mask back on.
"Ben provides an interesting counterbalance to Henry's Superman," said Snyder, about the 41-year-old actor, according to E! News. "He has the acting chops to create a layered portrayal of a man who is older and wiser than Clark Kent and bears the scars of a seasoned crime fighter, but retain the charm that the world sees in billionaire Bruce Wayne."
This will not be Affleck's first foray into playing a character ripped from the pages of a comic book. The Oscar winners starred in Daredevil in 2003.Orlando Bloom, Luke Evans and Scott Adkins were all mentioned, but the studio settled on Affleck, who played another superhero when he starred as Daredevil in the 2003 flick of the same name.
Reaction on social media was decidedly mixed.
WTF! Ben Affleck is Batman?! That's genius.
— Josh Gad (@joshgad) August 23, 2013
OOOOOOOOOOOOH Matt Damon as the new joker? waddya think of them apples? — Robert Kazinsky (@RobertKazinsky) August 23, 2013
Ben Affleck is the new Batman? I absolutely didn't see it coming but I do absolutely see it working. Gotta be better than Daredevil amirite?
— Robert Kazinsky (@RobertKazinsky) August 23, 2013
I want to congratulate Ben affleck on winning the part of batman it was some battle but you won fair and square . — Chris Rock (@chrisrock) August 23, 2013
Others were less enthusiastic.
come on guys, Ben Affleck will be gre-- pic.twitter.com/BPfgmV7utr
— Kyle Richard Solms (@kylesolms) August 23, 2013
Replacing Christian Bale with Ben Affleck as the new Batman is eating a steak and then deciding to wash it down with a glass of urine. — Not Bill Walton (@NotBillWalton) August 23, 2013