Ben Affleck is Batman: Initial Thoughts

People like me have known for a long time that Christian Bale would be Batman for a maximum of three Batman movies.  We've known this since before "The Dark Knight" was released.  So, in a way, we have been preparing ourselves for this moment.  The moment we get a new Batman.

Ben Affleck has kind of had a splotchy career.  He broke in with Matt Damon in 1997's "Good Will Hunting."  Unlike Matt Damon (who was cast as Jason Bourne and hasn't had trouble finding work since), Ben Affleck was immediately put into menial pretty-boy roles, and his occasional action role either never really panned out (Paycheck) or blew up in his face (Daredevil).  

Even so, by 2007 he had enough clout to make his directorial debut with "Gone Baby Gone."  As usual with high profile actors directorial debuts it was a smaller release that not many people have heard about.  But it earned him a whole pile of awards for directing.

In 2010 he wrote, produced, directed, and starred in "The Town."  It was a bigger production with a bigger cast and it was aimed to appeal to a bigger audience.  It was successful!  Again garnering awards for his directing.

Some of you know this, but at the most recent Academy Awards Ben Affleck won Best Picture for 2012's "Argo."  And it was considered controversial that he wasn't even nominated for Best Director for the same movie.

The point of telling you all this is to show you two things.  First, he has a real full-fledged directing career now, which means he can be picky about his acting jobs because that's not his main focus.  Second, his films get awards which means he knows quality when he sees it.

What does this have to do with Batman?  Well, to get him to sign up for such a high profile role, they really must have something good in the works.  Otherwise, he wouldn't take it.

But can he act?  Well, he was the lead in the Best Picture winner last year.  I know that means nothing to a lot of you, but it's good enough for me.

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Before I let this go I have to add something.  There is a bigger issue here.  Can a Batman follow up so soon after Nolan's iteration be any good?

DC is playing this pretty smart I think.  Ben Affleck is to play an older, established Batman.  A Batman who will show their new Superman what it is to be a superhero.

WHO IN THE WORLD DOESN'T WANT TO SEE BATMAN LITERALLY SCHOOLING SUPERMAN???

It's perfect.  The appeal of that situation alone will draw audiences.  And thinking of the dynamic there could be between Henry Cavill's Clark Kent and Ben Affleck's Bruce Wayne . . . my instincts tell me it will work.  And I do, in fact, have instincts for this kind of thing.

Here's hoping my instincts are (still) correct!

      The one.  The only.  Big Shot Critic