Ben Affleck Talks BATMAN On Jimmy Fallon Show

“I’m so excited,” said Oscar-winner Ben Affleck on becoming Batman during Monday evening’s interview on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon.

On August 22nd of this year, Warner Bros. Pictures revealed that they had found their new superhero in the director who months earlier had won them a Best Picture Oscar with ARGO.

Even with all the internet flack he’s received, Affleck seemed generally enthusiastic while talking with Fallon on taking on the role of the Caped Crusader in Zack Snyder’s untitled movie, pretty resilient to the jabs, “I’m a big boy,” and if the studio will try the true litmus test – Comic Con.

For those of us who remember the pre-internet days, all this hoopla is a mere drop in the bucket by comparison to Tim Burton’s BATMAN and the casting of Michael Keaton (still my favorite).

A February 1989 NY Times article laid out the uncertainties of casting the comedian and fan reactions.

Yet even before shooting began at London’s Pinewood Studios last fall, ”Batman” generated more anger than anticipation among the comic book hero’s fans – the hard-core audience for any film such as this. In a massive letter-writing campaign, objections were raised over the studio’s emphasis on this high-concept Batman and the refusal to make a serious square-jawed film out of one of the most popular – and psychologically complex – comic book characters.

The controversy, which erupted in the front pages of The Wall Street Journal and numerous trade publications, focused on the casting of Mr. Keaton, best known as the anarchic prankster in last year’s comedy hit ”Beetlejuice,” as the vengeful vigilante, and the choice of Tim Burton, the ”Beetlejuice” creator and former Disney animator, as the film’s director. The suspicion voiced by hundreds of angry fans was that ”Batman” would be a campy send-up similar to the self-parodying but hugely popular 1960’s television series.

”I’m at risk with Michael [ Keaton ] and Tim [ Burton ] . The image of Batman is a big male model type, but I wanted a guy who’s a real person who happens to put on this weird armor. A guy who’s funny and scary. Keaton’s both. He’s got that explosive, insane side.” said producer Jon Peters.

Read the rest of the article HERE.

Affleck and filmmaker Zack Snyder will create an entirely new incarnation of the character in Snyder’s as-yet-untitled project—bringing Batman and Superman together for the first time on the big screen and continuing the director’s vision of their universe, which he established in MAN OF STEEL.

Last month’s surprise announcement of the casting and new movie featuring both Superman and Batman created a wave of excitement and immediately fueled discussion and debate—among fans as well as in the media—about Affleck putting on the cape and cowl of Bruce Wayne’s alter ego.

Affleck will star opposite Henry Cavill, who will reprise the role of Superman/Clark Kent. The film will also reunite MAN OF STEEL stars Amy Adams, Laurence Fishburne and Diane Lane.

The studio has slated the film to open worldwide on July 17, 2015 with production beginning in 2014.