Though it has been rumored for a late 2018 or early 2019 release, we’re still not sure when we’ll see the Ben Affleck-directed solo Batman film hit cinemas. All that we know so far is a couple of key cast members involved including Affleck himself as Bruce Wayne, Jeremy Irons as Alfred Pennyworth, J.K. Simmons as Commissioner Gordon, and Joe Manganiello as the villain Deathstroke.
Out doing promotional interviews for “The Accountant,” Affleck has spoken some more about the film and finally confirmed the title that has been rumored for years. He tells The Associated Press:
“The movie, I think, is going to be called The Batman. At least that’s what we’re going with now. I might change it. We’re working on the script. The script is going well. I’m really excited about it.”
He also spoke with Collider about why he chose to use Deathstroke as the film’s primary antagonist:
“He’s a great villain because – I just had an instinctive feeling that he would match up with him well. You know, I’m a big admirer of that character as well, especially in the New 52 the way that they did Deathstroke, and I thought that it could work.”
Affleck also spoke with Fox 5 DC and was asked to offer his thoughts on the reaction to “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” both critically and commercially:
“It’s interesting: It was a huge hit movie – more people went to see that than any movie I’ve made in my career. It was the biggest hit of my career and then it had so much editorial negativity. Fans went, and I got a lot of positive response. It was interesting, that movie, because it was judged not necessarily on execution so much as on its tone. People seemed to want to have a lighter tone to the movie, and I thought that was interesting. Tone is not a qualitative thing. It’s subjective, right? Some tones resonate with me that might not with you. And the tone of the movie was really parallel to the Frank Miller book [The Dark Knight Returns], which I liked and thought was great. I’m glad that so many people went and so many people liked the movie.”
We’ll next see Affleck in character when “Justice League” opens on November 17th next year.
