If you’ve been hiding behind a nerd shield, then you may not be aware that the Kingdom of Nerd is all shook up this morning. It actually came in late last night, hopeful I guess, that the inhabitants were busy playing D&D or wrapped up in a good fantasy book. Warner Bros. and DC announced the next actor to play Batman in the 2015 Superman/Batman crossover movie. It is Ben Affleck.
Stones are being thrown, comments hurled wildly into the nether. The majority of folks I know and follow across the internet don’t seem to like this news. I’m remaining neutral (as best I can) because Affleck isn’t a horrible actor, and there’s also one other thing that comes to my mind: he wasn’t really cast to play The Batman, he was cast to play Bruce Wayne.
All the previous actors – Keaton, Bale, Kilmer, Clooney – they were chosen for what they could bring to the role of playboy Bruce Wayne. A philanthropist owner of a multi-billion dollar corporation who dabbles in a bit of everything to fund a very dangerous hobby started by the death of his parents at a very young age. A man who’s closest friend/parent/confidant is his butler. A man who has more emotional depth and complex social grid then anyone I know in real life. Bruce Wayne is a multi-dimensional character that requires attention and detail from whomever takes on that mantle.
But what about The Batman? Batman is his own person. An actor may fill the inside of the suit, but the costume and the writing take care of the rest. Batman will be whatever the director and the writers tell him to be. Affleck will simply be the skeleton it is molded over. In other words, if this incarnation of Batman turns out to be the worst ever, it will be Snyder’s fault and the fault of the script writers. Where Affleck will succeed or fail is with Bruce Wayne. If he can bring him to life and give him a portrayal worthy of the name, then he will be in good hands.
Chemical Fawn 