Ben Affleck to play Batman in the superhero double act

 
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23 August 2013
The Weekender

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Ben Affleck has been cast as Batman in the forthcoming Superman sequel, bringing together the two heroes in one film for the first time.

American Affleck, 41, will star opposite British actor Henry Cavill, who will reprise his role as Superman from the most recent film, Man of Steel.

Actor-turned-director Affleck, awarded the best picture Oscar for his film Argo, will be the eighth actor to play Batman on screen and follows in the footsteps of the likes of George Clooney and Michael Keaton.

Director Zack Snyder, who directed Man of Steel, said Affleck would provide an “interesting counterbalance” to Cavill in The Man of Steel sequel, not yet named.

He said Affleck has the acting skills “to create a layered portrayal of a man who is older and wiser than Clark Kent and bears the scars of a seasoned crime fighter, but retain the charm that the world sees in billionaire Bruce Wayne. I can’t wait to work with him.”

He added: “It’s beyond mythological to have Superman and our new Batman facing off, since they are the greatest super-heroes in the world.”

The most recent actor to play Batman was Christian Bale, in the Dark Knight trilogy directed by Christopher Nolan.

Affleck isn’t new to the superhero genre, having played Daredevil in the 2003 movie of the same name, where he met his future wife, actress Jennifer Garner.

Affleck’s casting split fans on Twitter, with some describing it as “inspired” while others called it a “catastrophe.”

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