A few weeks ago there was a rumor that said there were serious problems with Ben Affleck’s Batman script, which he himself admitted he wasn’t happy with over the summer. I wanted to take some time to step back and look at all of the facts and then try to logically piece together what’s really going on with The Batman.
Affleck isn’t contractually obligated to make a Batman movie
“[After Batman v Superman] he’s contracted to do at least Justice League One and Two, so at least three times wearing the cape,” Affleck’s agent told The Hollywood Reporter this past March, adding, “there’s a script that he’s written that is a really cool [Batman] idea, so that’s out there as an option.”
To me, this means Affleck is in control to negotiate a perfect deal. Warner Bros. obviously wants a Batman movie, and Affleck is in a position to give it to them on his own terms. After seeing the backlash to Batman v Superman and Suicide Squad, I wouldn’t be surprised if the two-time Oscar winner asked for full creative control for his Batman movie in his new contract.
Affleck isn’t happy with his Batman script and thinks the movie might be delayed
In June, Affleck told bloggers on the set of Justice League that he wasn’t completely happy with his Batman script, and that he wasn’t sure if he was going to hit the release date that Warner Bros. had set for it.
“I think they have a date for it. Although, I don’t know if I would necessarily be able to make that date because I don’t have a script that’s ready yet. My timetable is I’m not going to make a movie until there’s a script that I think is good because I’ve been on the end of the things when you make movies when you have a script that’s not good yet and it doesn’t pan out.” [laughs]
He continued:
“I have a script, we’re still working on it, and I’m not happy enough with it yet to actually go out there and make a Batman movie, for which I have the highest of standards, I would say. That’s something that would have to pass a very high bar for me. It’s not just like, ‘Yeah, that might be fun, let’s go try this out.’”
So when we hear rumors that there are “serious problems” with the script, I think they are just exaggerating what we already know from Affleck himself.
It would also appear that Affleck and Warner Bros. have different timetables in mind for when The Batman will be released. Assuming Affleck still doesn’t have that new contract, he’s in control and can push back a bit.
Warner Bros. wants to shoot The Batman in the spring
In October, Ben Affleck told E! News: “There is no Batman movie happening yet, we’re still trying to figure it out, you know, get the script and budget and all that stuff.”
Then about a week later, Joe Manganiello, who stars in The Batman as the villain Deathstroke, revealed that he starts shooting the movie in the spring. Did anyone tell Ben Affleck that?
Ben Affleck knows how to direct and/or write amazing movies
- Good Will Hunting* — 97% on Rotten Tomatoes
- Gone Baby Gone — 94% on Rotten Tomatoes
- The Town — 94% on Rotten Tomatoes
- Argo* — 96% on Rotten Tomatoes
I didn’t just cherry pick his good movies there. Those are all of the movies that Affleck has directed and/or written.
* Affleck won an Oscar
What’s really going on
When I read all of these comments and quotes, it seems to me like Affleck wants one thing and Warner Bros. wants another. Just last month Affleck said they were still trying to figure out the script, budget, and “all that stuff”. I think they are still working out the details of his new contract. It seems like Warner Bros. has a release date in mind and is ready to start shooting in the spring, yet Affleck doesn’t seem like he’s in any rush to start making this movie.
I fear he may be feeling pressured to do it sooner than he would like. Affleck wants to make the movie when every piece of the puzzle falls perfectly in place, and honestly, we should all be patient and give him the time he needs. Warner Bros. included.
