Featured Image Credit: Live Media Publishing Group / Alamy Stock Photo/AFF / Alamy Stock Photo
Topics: James Gunn, Ben Affleck, DC Comics, Film and TV, Celebrity
Katherine Sidnell
Topics: James Gunn, Ben Affleck, DC Comics, Film and TV, Celebrity
After several of his castmates were savagely sacked, Ben Affleck has announced he’s no longer interested in directing films for the DC Universe.
It had previously been teased that the 50-year-old actor would return to the comic book franchise, after his stint as Batman in the Snyderverse.
Sadly, though, it seems as if the actor has cut all ties with the franchise after handing back the keys to the Batmobile.
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His comments come after a massive shake-up of the DC Universe, with director James Gunn overseeing a new era for DC.
Having been given control by Warner Brothers, the seasoned filmmaker wasted no time in announcing a whole slate of new projects including a Green Lantern series.
However, fans were devasted that actors Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and Henry Cavill had been ditched from their respective roles after the massive shake-up.
Frustratingly, Cavill had only just announced his long-awaited return as Superman a few weeks before this – with the news sending fans into a fever pitch.
Whilst Gunn has denied sacking the actors, he did try to soften the huge blow by teasing that Affleck would return to direct.
Affleck had previously played the Caped Crusader in Batman VS Superman and Justice League, with the role eventually going to Robert Pattinson.
This left him free to return in another capacity as fans had not been overly enthusiastic about Affleck’s portrayal of Bruce Wayne.
When James Gunn was asked about Affleck, he told one fan on Twitter: “Met with Ben yesterday precisely because he wants to direct & we want him to direct; we just have to find the right project”.
Though unconfirmed by Warner Brothers or DC Studios, it’ had been thought that Affleck would direct an adaptation of The Brave and The Bold.
Fans were elated as he’s directed several critically acclaimed films, including Gone Baby Gone and Argo, which won an Oscar for Best Picture.
However, the Pearl Harbour actor has since backtracked saying that he’s ‘not interested’.
Seemingly lashing out at the DC studio exec, Affleck told The Hollywood Reporter: "I would not direct something for the [James] Gunn DC. Absolutely not,"
Though he insisted it wasn’t personal, he did admit that he didn’t share Gunn’s vision for the DC Universe.
He told the publication: "I have nothing against James Gunn. [He's a] Nice guy, sure he's going to do a great job. I just wouldn't want to go in and direct in the way they're doing that. I'm not interested in that."