Many fans were shocked to learn that Ben Affleck was taking over the role of Batman from Christian Bale, especially after the latter’s portrayal was so well received. Well, now, the actor has spoken out on the differences between the two versions of the caped crusader.
French magazine, Studio Ciné Live, who this month is covering Batman Vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice, asked Affleck if he studied Bales performance at all in order to prepare for the role, to which the Argo star revealed the following:
“I don’t want to compete with other incarnations, nor do I want to emulate them.” he said. “Those versions belong in another universe. Christopher Nolan used his Batman to tell a finite story. My version is different, but remains faithful to the Batman mythology and all the themes associated with it. The other difference is that Nolan’s Batman isn’t part of a universe where other superheroes exist as well. Here – because we’re working towards the Justice League – there’s Superman, and it’s a world populated with super beings. This situation generates an altogether new reality.”
He also explained the reasoning behind Bruce Wayne’s playboy lifestyle, something which the Nolan version used to cover for his secret life.
“We also play a bit more with the billionaire playboy side of the character; he lives that life at full tilt. He courts many women, owns many cars, and parties a lot. He does that as a way to fill the void in his soul. Moreover, past incarnations dealt with a straightforward search for justice. This time, Batman’s reasoning is clouded by frustration, bitterness and anger.” Sounds like an interesting take on the character.
In the interview the actor also heaped praise on co-star Jesse Eisenberg, even going so far as to compare his Lex Luthor to that of Heath Ledgers Joker in the aforementioned Christopher Nolan trilogy.
“Luthor is, for me, the most interesting character in the film, He’s radically different from what we’ve seen so far. He’s grounded in reality, and he’s extraordinary. This type of film is only as good as its villain. That’s why The Dark Knight was so brilliant, because of Heath Ledger’s Joker. Jesse improves the film with each scene he’s in. He’s not your usual one-dimensional villain, there’s a whole psychology behind him.”
We won’t see these differences until the film is released next March, but if the character is anything like Affleck describes – we should be in for something special.
Source: Studio Cine’ Live
What do you think? Do his words inspire confidence? Who do you think will end up being the ultimate Batman? Let us know below!