•Batman actor Ben Affleck has sharply criticized Warner Bros. over its handling of the production of Justice League, calling the experience the lowest point of his career.
Talking on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Affleck was asked about his canceled standalone Batman film, which would have featured Joe Manganiello as Deathstroke. The actor and director said he was excited by what he was developing for that project but admitted that working on Justice League turned him away from the idea of helming another DC Universe film.
“The truth is, the experience of Justice League was so, so negative for lots of different reasons,” Affleck said. “Some of which having to do with where I was personally, some of which having to do with the tragedy that happened during the time, and also the fact that I really saw how not to make a movie like that when the studio is at odds with the filmmaker. You’re really making a mistake. That was what really doomed that.”
Affleck appears to be referencing Warner Bros.’ clashes with director Zack Snyder over his DC films, most notably after Justice League failed to meet critical expectations following Batman v Superman and fell short of the $1 billion mark despite featuring three of DC’s biggest heroes. This reportedly put pressure on Snyder to make the film more appealing through a lighter tone and different story ideas.
Snyder left the project during post-production after his daughter took her own life. Warner Bros. then brought in Avengers director Joss Whedon to direct reshoots, which substantially changed the film’s tone and story. Those reshoots were also hampered by allegations of actors being mistreated by Whedon—experiences Affleck said he learned about second-hand from Ray [Fisher] and Gal [Gadot].
The way in which that was, I thought frankly, used as an excuse was one of the shtiest things I’d ever seen. It was so gross. And then the whole environment and vibe, much of which I wasn’t privvy to, but that I sort of heard about second hand in terms of Ray [Fisher] and Gal [Gadot] and other peoples’ experiences. It was just like ‘Wow, this is about as gross as it gets.’
Ben Affleck
Affleck said he believes Warner Bros. used the tragedy in Snyder’s family as an “excuse” to take over Justice League.
The actor’s time on Justice League was also intertwined with a divorce and struggles with alcoholism, contributing to what he described as a turbulent period. He eventually stepped away from the role of Batman and declined to direct his own Batman film, instead passing the mantle to director Matt Reeves and actor Robert Pattinson. Affleck later returned for The Flash and for new scenes at the end of Zack Snyder’s Justice League, the director’s cut of the embattled film.
Zack Snyder recently stated that a former WB executive expressed regret over how everything was handled. Some hardcore fans have hoped one day Snyder’s vision could be completed with another Justice League movie, but given the chaotic and negative experience for those involved, such an outcome seems unlikely.
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