Ben Affleck is opening up about his difficult experience portraying Batman in Justice League (2017), reflecting on the challenges he faced both on and off-screen during production. In a candid interview with GQ, the 52-year-old actor admitted that his time working on the superhero ensemble film was “a really excruciating experience” for him, and he has little interest in returning to the genre.
Affleck’s portrayal of Bruce Wayne, a role he first took on in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), came during a tumultuous period in his personal life, and he confessed that much of his struggles stemmed from his own unhappiness. “It wasn’t all about being in a superhero movie,” Affleck said. “I’ve lost interest in what was of interest about it to me. But I certainly wouldn’t want to replicate an experience like that. A lot of it was misalignment of agendas, understandings, expectations. And also, by the way, I wasn’t bringing anything particularly wonderful to that equation at the time, either.”
He continued, explaining that his own challenges and failings at the time added to the overall difficult experience. “I had my own failings, significant failings, in that process and at that time,” Affleck admitted. “Part of it is that what I was bringing to work every day was a lot of unhappiness. So I wasn’t bringing a lot of positive energy to the equation. I didn’t cause problems, but I came in and I did my job and I went home. But you’ve got to do a little bit better than that.”
This isn’t the first time Affleck has spoken about the struggles he faced during the making of Justice League. Previously, he described the film as the “worst experience” of his career. Several factors contributed to the difficult production, including multiple delays, budget issues, script rewrites, and a dramatic change in directors. Zack Snyder, the original director, stepped down from the project due to a family tragedy—the death of his 20-year-old daughter—leaving Joss Whedon to take over late in filming. Whedon’s involvement led to significant reshoots, which further complicated the production.
The movie, which also starred Henry Cavill as Superman, Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, Jason Momoa as Aquaman, Ezra Miller as The Flash, and Ray Fisher as Cyborg, faced additional challenges behind the scenes. Several of the cast members, including Gadot and Fisher, have publicly criticized Whedon’s behavior on set. Gadot recalled feeling “shocked” by the way Whedon spoke to her, while Fisher accused the director of being “gross, abusive, unprofessional, and completely unacceptable.” WarnerMedia conducted an investigation into Fisher’s claims, which led to “remedial action” but no further details were made public.
Despite the negative experience on Justice League, Affleck has also shared that he had positive moments as Batman, particularly when he was able to explore the character in different films. “I loved doing the Batman movie. I loved Batman v Superman,” he said. “And I liked my brief stints on The Flash that I did and when I got to work with Viola Davis on Suicide Squad for a day or two.” For Affleck, the creative aspect of portraying an older, more broken Bruce Wayne was especially meaningful. He explained that he appreciated the ambition behind his take on the character, describing the vision as a “sort of older, broken, damaged Bruce Wayne” that he hoped to portray in his films.
Despite the overall negative experience surrounding Justice League, Affleck expressed his satisfaction with the creative direction of his Batman, particularly in Batman v Superman. He explained that the first movie, in particular, explored a side of the character that felt fresh and nuanced, focusing on a version of the Dark Knight who was weary and scarred from years of fighting crime.
ADVERTISEMENT
Affleck’s time as Batman was short-lived, and he eventually decided to step away from the role. He was replaced by Robert Pattinson in The Batman (2022), directed by Matt Reeves. However, Affleck made a return to the DC Universe in a cameo role for The Flash (2023), signaling that his relationship with the character may not be entirely over. While he no longer seems interested in a full return to the cape and cowl, Affleck’s brief appearance in The Flash provided fans with one last look at his version of Bruce Wayne.
In his GQ interview, Affleck also touched on the shift in audience expectations, particularly when it came to the younger demographic. He noted that Justice League “started to skew too old for a big part of the audience,” which led to complications behind the scenes. “Like even my own son at the time was too scared to watch the movie,” Affleck revealed. “And so when I saw that I was like, ‘Oh s—, we have a problem.’” He noted that the studio’s desire to appeal to a younger audience clashed with the filmmaker’s vision, creating a recipe for disaster.
Ultimately, Affleck’s tenure as Batman was marked by both personal and professional challenges. Despite his discontent with the Justice League experience, the actor is grateful for the opportunity to have portrayed one of the most iconic superheroes in pop culture. His reflection on the difficulties behind the scenes offers a rare look into the complexities of working on major blockbuster films, as well as the personal toll it can take on actors.
Though Affleck has since moved on to other projects, including his directorial ventures and upcoming roles, his portrayal of Batman remains a memorable part of the DC Universe. Whether fans loved or disliked his take on the character, Affleck’s experience serves as a reminder of the unpredictability and challenges of working in Hollywood’s blockbuster machine.
