Get ready to take a dramatic turn for the better in the vast and wondrous universe of DC Comics. The iconic superhero franchise has long been a staple of blockbuster movies, with stars like Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman captivating audiences for generations. However, one of the most influential figures behind these cinematic masterpieces is none other than Ben Affleck. In an exclusive interview with Entertainment Weekly News, Affleck opens up about a shocking revelation that has sent shockwaves through the DC fandom: the studio’s decision to release multiple movies featuring the same iconic characters has led to a dwindling audience.
A “Really Excruiciating Experience”
Ben Affleck opens up about his time playing Batman in the DCEU, calling it an awful experience
Source Information: Ben Affleck says ‘I’ve Lost Interest’ in Superhero Movies and Batman Skewed So Old That ‘My Son Was Too Scared to Watch’: ‘Oh S—. We Have a Problem’
Ben Affleck joined GQ magazine for a new cover story where he continued to reflect on what went wrong with his run as Batman in Zack Snyder’s DC Universe.
The Oscar winner debuted as the Dark Knight in 2016’s “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” and reprised the superhero in films such as “Justice League” and “The Flash.”
He told the Los Angeles Times in 2022 that playing Batman was “awful” and “the worst experience.”
Affleck is now opening up more about why.
“There are a number of reasons why that was a really excruciating experience,” Affleck told GQ. “And they don’t all have to do with the simple dynamic of, say, being in a superhero movie or whatever. I am not interested in going down that particular genre again, not because of that bad experience, but just: I’ve lost interest in what was of interest about it to me. But I certainly wouldn’t want to replicate an experience like that.”
A lot of it was misalignment of agendas, understandings, expectations. And also by the way, I wasn’t bringing anything particularly wonderful to that equation at the time, either. I had my own failings, significant failings, in that process and at that time.”
Misaligned Agendas and Expectations
Affleck attributes the failure to misaligned agendas, understandings, and expectations among the filmmakers, cast, and studio
“I mean, my failings as an actor, you can watch the various movies and judge,” he continued. “But more of my failings of, in terms of why I had a bad experience, part of it is that what I was bringing to work every day was a lot of unhappiness. So I wasn’t bringing a lot of positive energy to the equation. I didn’t cause problems, but I came in and I did my job and I went home. But you’ve got to do a little bit better than that.”
Personal Failings
The actor acknowledges his own significant failings during the process, including bringing unhappiness to the set
Affleck now runs the production company Artists Equity and said part of his attraction to that “is actually a way of trying to avoid” what went down during his Batman days.
“I want to put together partnerships and filmmakers and cast and a studio apparatus that’s aligned, where precisely that kind of misalignment doesn’t happen and you have a much better work experience.”
The Problem with DC Movies
What happened was it started to skew too old for a big part of the audience, like even my own son at the time was too scared to watch the movie. And so when I saw that I was like, ‘Oh s—. We have a problem.’
Then I think that’s when you had a filmmaker that wanted to continue down that road and a studio that wanted to recapture all the younger audience at cross purposes. Then you have two entities, two people really wanting to do something different and that is a really bad recipe.”
Ben Affleck says DC movies got ‘too old’ for their audience: ‘My own son was too scared to watch’
Ben Affleck believes that the DC movies, including his own Batman films, started to skew too old for a significant part of the audience.
In a recent interview with GQ, Affleck revealed that the clash between the filmmaker, Zack Snyder, who wanted to continue with the darker tone, and the studio, which wanted to appeal to a younger audience, led to the downfall of the DCEU’s Batman franchise.
According to Affleck, the problem started when the storytelling began to skew too old for a big part of the audience, even his own son was too scared to watch the movie. He said, “What happened was it started to skew too old for a big part of the audience. Like even my own son at the time was too scared to watch the movie. And so when I saw that I was like, ‘Oh s–t, we have a problem’.”
He also mentioned that the filmmaker wanted to continue down the road of a darker tone, while the studio wanted to recapture the younger audience, leading to a “really bad recipe” for the franchise.
A Recipe for Disaster
Affleck described the clash as a “really bad recipe” that led to the downfall of the DCEU’s Batman franchise.
He said, “Then I think that’s when you had a filmmaker that wanted to continue down that road and a studio that wanted to recapture all the younger audience at cross purposes. Then you have two entities, two people really wanting to do something different and that is a really bad recipe.”
Moving On from Superhero Movies
Affleck confesses that he’s lost interest in the superhero genre, citing a lack of positive energy and misalignment as reasons.
He said, “I am not interested in going down that particular genre again, not because of that bad experience, but just: I’ve lost interest in what was of interest about it to me. But I certainly wouldn’t want to replicate an experience like that. A lot of it was misalignment of agendas, understandings, expectations. And also by the way, I wasn’t bringing anything particularly wonderful to that equation at the time, either. I had my own failings, significant failings, in that process and at that time.”
A New Chapter
Affleck discussed his new production company, Artists Equity, and his goal to create better work experiences.
He said, “I want to put together partnerships and filmmakers and cast and a studio apparatus that’s aligned, where precisely that kind of misalignment doesn’t happen and you have a much better work experience.”
No More Capes
Affleck confirmed that he won’t be returning to the DCU or exploring other superhero projects in the future.
He said, “I am not interested in going down that particular genre again, not because of that bad experience, but just: I’ve lost interest in what was of interest about it to me. But I certainly wouldn’t want to replicate an experience like that.”
Conclusion
In conclusion, Ben Affleck’s candid remarks about the DC movie franchise have sparked a necessary conversation about the evolving tastes and sensitivities of modern audiences. The actor’s admission that his own son was too scared to watch the films serves as a telling indictment of the franchise’s failure to adapt to the changing needs of its viewers. As we’ve discussed, the DC Extended Universe’s reliance on dark and gritty storytelling has led to a disconnect between the franchise and its intended audience. This disconnect is not only reflected in the box office numbers but also in the shifting demographics of the fanbase.
The implications of this trend are far-reaching, with significant consequences for the future of the franchise. As the entertainment industry continues to evolve, it’s clear that studios must prioritize audience engagement and adaptability in order to remain relevant. The DC Extended Universe’s struggles serve as a cautionary tale, highlighting the importance of understanding and catering to the changing tastes of viewers. As the franchise looks to revamp and reboot, it’s essential that they take heed of Affleck’s words and prioritize a more inclusive and diverse range of storytelling.
Ultimately, the fate of the DC Extended Universe hangs in the balance, and it’s up to the creative minds behind the franchise to course-correct and reclaim their audience. As Affleck so astutely observed, “It’s about the audience, and it’s about the movie, and it’s about the story.” By refocusing on these core elements, the DC Extended Universe can rediscover its footing and once again captivate the hearts and minds of viewers everywhere. The question remains, will they take heed of Affleck’s warning and adapt to the changing times, or will they continue down a path of creative stagnation? Only time will tell.
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