Ben Affleck: 'Oh S***, We Have a Problem' - When He Knew He Was Done as Batman

Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice star Ben Affleck has opened up about his “excruciating” experience portraying the Caped Crusader in DC’s cinematic universe.

In a recent interview with GQ, the actor reflected on his decade-long journey as Batman, describing his time at the center of the so-called Snyder-verse as deeply challenging. He referred to the experience as “a really excruciating experience,” citing a strained relationship with DC leadership and a growing disinterest in the superhero genre.

“There are a number of reasons why that was a really excruciating experience,” Affleck explained. “And they don’t all stem from simply being in a superhero movie. I’m not opposed to the genre because of that experience—I’ve just lost interest in what once drew me to it. But I certainly wouldn’t want to repeat that kind of experience.”

“My failings as an actor are visible in the films—people can judge that for themselves. But more importantly, part of why I had such a negative experience was that I brought a lot of personal unhappiness to work every day,” he said.

“I didn’t cause problems, but I showed up, did my job, and left. And frankly, you need to do more than that to make something great.”

Affleck’s DC journey began when he was cast to co-star alongside Henry Cavill in Zack Snyder’s Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice. What followed were multiple appearances across the DCEU, including Suicide Squad (2016), both versions of Justice League (2017 and 2021’s Snyder Cut), and a cameo in The Flash. He was also set to headline a standalone Batman film, which was ultimately canceled.

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11 ImagesWhile details about the canceled Batman film remain sparse, rumors suggest it would have spanned 80 years of the Dark Knight’s legacy, potentially delving into Arkham Asylum and featuring Joe Manganiello’s Deathstroke.

Affleck has previously credited longtime friend Matt Damon with helping him decide to step away from the role. In this latest interview, he revealed that his son also played a pivotal role in his decision.

“It started to skew too dark for a large part of the audience. Even my own son was too scared to watch Batman v. Superman. When I realized that, I thought, 'Oh no, we’ve got a real problem here.'

"That’s when you had a filmmaker wanting to go deeper into that tone, and a studio trying to win back a younger audience. Two conflicting visions. And that’s a recipe for disaster.”

Today, DC appears to be shifting direction, dividing its storytelling into distinct gritty and lighthearted universes. The darker path continues with The Batman 2, set to arrive in 2027, while the brighter, more accessible future begins with James Gunn’s DCU, launching with Superman this July. As for Ben Affleck, he has made it clear: he does not plan to return to DC to direct a film in Gunn’s new universe.