Affleck's Batman project resurfaces

Ben Affleck's abandoned Batman project, first reported by Entertainment Weekly on October 17, has recently been discussed in relation to the film starring Robert Pattinson as Batman. The project had been in development before Affleck stepped down as director in January 2017 and eventually passed the role to Pattinson in 2019.

Affleck's vision for Batman

Affleck had a clear vision for his version of Batman, which he described as a superhero adaptation of The Game, a 1997 paranoid thriller directed by David Fincher. The film would have featured a complex storyline involving Deathstroke, a character played by Joe Manganiello, who would believe Batman was responsible for the death of his son.

Details of the proposed storyline

In Affleck's version, Deathstroke would pursue a violent vendetta against Bruce Wayne, including the kidnapping of Alfred and an attack on the Batcave. The film would have included a dramatic confrontation in which Deathstroke nearly kills Batman and Batgirl before they escape on an aerial train. It would have ended with a one-on-one duel in the streets of Gotham, inspired by a scene from Batman: Arkham Asylum.

Challenges of Affleck's role

Joe Manganiello expressed concerns about the sheer workload of Affleck's role, which involved directing, writing, producing, and acting. He recalls asking Affleck if it was realistic for one person to handle all these responsibilities, to which Affleck responded with confidence.

Affleck's decision to step down

In 2020, Affleck told The New York Times that he decided to abandon the project after receiving feedback from someone who reviewed the script. This person warned him about the potential consequences of reliving the intense experience of making the film, which had been further complicated by Affleck's personal struggles with alcoholism.