Ben Affleck shuts down any rumors that he might eventually direct a movie for DC Studios after he called his time shooting “Justice League” as the “worst experience” of his career…
Ben Affleck is done playing Batman after his upcoming appearance in “The Flash” movie and it appears he won’t have anything to do with the DC Extended Universe moving forward.
The Oscar winner shut down that idea after DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn actually said he was interested in potentially working with Affleck as a director after he took over his new role alongside fellow co-CEO Peter Safran. Affleck has now nixed that idea after revealing what a horrific experience he had shooting the “Justice League” movie, which was a film started by Zack Snyder but ultimately finished by Joss Whedon.
“You could teach a seminar on all the reasons why this is how not to do it,” Affleck said about filming “Justice League.” “Ranging from production to bad decisions to horrible personal tragedy, and just ending with the most monstrous taste in my mouth.
“The genius, and the silver lining, is that Zack Snyder eventually went to AT&T and was like, “Look, I can get you four hours of content.” And it’s principally just all the slow motion that he shot in black-and-white. And one day of shooting with me and him. He was like, “Do you want to come shoot in my backyard?” I was like, “I think there are unions, Zack. I think we have to make a deal.” But I went and did it. And now [Zack Snyder’s Justice League] is my highest-rated movie on IMDb.”
Affleck was originally attached to direct a solo “Batman” movie after he appeared as The Caped Crusader in “Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice” and “Justice League” but those plans eventually fell apart as the DC Extended Universe continued to struggle to find a wider audience.
Once Affleck left the project, DC shifted gears before teaming up with Matt Reeves, who eventually helped cast Robert Pattinson in the lead role for “The Batman.”
Affleck says the time he spent shooting “Justice League” just soured him to whole idea of returning to a production of his own under the DC Studios banner.
“I was going to direct a Batman, and [Justice League] made me go, “I’m out,” Affleck revealed. “I never want to do any of this again. I’m not suited.” That was the worst experience I’ve ever seen in a business which is full of some shitty experiences. It broke my heart.
“There was an idea of someone [Joss Whedon] coming in, like, “I’ll rescue you and we’ll do 60 days of shooting and I’ll write a whole thing around what you have. I’ve got the secret.” And it wasn’t the secret. That was hard. And I started to drink too much. I was back at the hotel in London, it was either that or jump out the window. And I just thought, “This isn’t the life I want. My kids aren’t here. I’m miserable.” You want to go to work and find something interesting to hang onto, rather than just wearing a rubber suit, and most of it you’re just standing against the computer screen going, “If this nuclear waste gets loose, we’ll …” That’s fine. I don’t condescend to that or put it down, but I got to a point where I found it creatively not satisfying.”
So despite Gunn showing interest in working with Affleck, “The Town” and “Chasing Amy” star has no interest in returning to that kind of film no matter how much the studio might want him.
“I would not direct something for the [James] Gunn DC. Absolutely not,” Affleck said. “I have nothing against James Gunn. Nice guy, sure he’s going to do a great job. I just wouldn’t want to go in and direct in the way they’re doing that. I’m not interested in that.”
While Affleck is out, Gunn and Safran have stayed plenty busy seeking out writers and directors who do want to work with them as they seek to rebuild and reshape the DC Extended Universe now that they’re in charge.
As for Affleck, he’s about to unveil his next film with “Air” opening in April, which tells the story behind the Nike executive who took a risk on a kid named Michael Jordan and ended up building one of the most impressive athletic apparel empires in history.
