Cast Superman the Man of Steel

After Warner Bros. electrified the crowd at San Diego Comic-Con 2013 (and the internet) with the announcement of, a Batman/Superman team-up movie, attention shifted very quickly to who would step into the cape and cowl as the new Dark Knight. Rumors ranged from a younger Batman Beyond-inspired Caped Crusader to an older, more tech-savvy Batman – while other reports suggested that Warner Bros. was (at least) tempted to offer Christian Bale a dump truck full of money to get the actor on board for more vigilante justice.

However, in a late-in-the-day surprise announcement, it was revealed that Academy Award winning director and writer, Ben Affleck would be the next actor to portray Batman onscreen. Certain fans were quick to express their disappointment (and hatred of his role in the Daredevil film), whereas some were encouraged by the choice (and focused on Affleck’s more recent work, most notably his performances in The Town and Argo), while others merely considered the actor an uninteresting choice – especially in light of lesser known performers that had been mentioned.

In response, the Screen Rant team has weighed-in on why Ben Affleck as Batman could work, and now the filmmakers behind the upcoming movie (and the casting choice) are offering their thoughts – as well as teasing what fans can expect from this new take on the Caped Crusader.

In an official press release from Warner Bros. studio, producer Greg Silverman expressed his confidence in Affleck’s ability to step into the fan-favorite role as well as explore new elements of Batman/Bruce Wayne:

“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. His outstanding career is a testament to his talent and we know he and Zack will bring new dimension to the duality of this character.”

Fellow Warner Bros. executive Sue Kroll was equally enthusiastic – acknowledging that Batman isn’t just a role, Affleck is joining a long legacy of talented actors that have portrayed Batman onscreen.