In a recent and extensive interview with the French Magazine Premiere, Ben Affleck spoke about joining the DCEU as the Dark Knight in Zack Snyder's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. The interview is a bit on the lengthy side, but Affleck goes in depth as to what we can expect from Batman v Superman in just a few short weeks.
Affleck talks about how different Batman v Superman is from other comic book movies:
"Yeah, it's very different. It's a big movie too but it's another thing to spend three weeks in the Batmobile, following a guy with a green suit who pretends to be the bad guy! The superhero movies are magical but really difficult to turn, especially physically."
Affleck on working alongside Zack Snyder and becoming a Batman we've never seen before:
"After the success of Argo, I really felt I could do what I liked. But it took some convincing for me to take on Batman. Zack Snyder showed me around his studio, where there were lots of drawings and paintings, while the visual world of the film. I was very surprised, it had nothing to do with what I imagined. He wanted to be as close as possible to the comic book by Frank Miller, The Dark Knight Returns. With Batman older, more of a brawler who comes to the end of his career. A slightly off-side guy whose playboy philanthropist is actually another mask with which he fills the void that inhabits it. Loved this vision. This is not a guy of 25 who spends his anger on the criminals of Gotham City. This is someone who takes stock of his life and wondered if it was worth it all. He lived another tragedy, the people he worked with were killed (note: during the fight between Superman and Zod at the end of Man of Steel) by something that terrifies him."
Batman's feelings of being overwhelmed by new threats:
"Yes, because suddenly the world is meaningless: Batman faces superhumans, which had never happened to him. It's very similar to what we saw at this time, at least since 2001. The world is much scarier than what we thought, anything can happen at anytime. Banks can flow, buildings can explode ... You feel less safe and Zack wanted to evoke that feeling."
Affleck talks about Zack Snyder and Chris Terrio working together to create a great story:
"Zack is an incredibly visual director. One thing that sometimes doesn't make sense will when it is turned on the monitor, it's sublime. It inspired me every day. And Chris is a pragmatic type who writes scripts for political thrillers. Their meeting was fruitful, they managed to create the perfect hybrid. This script is great, there was not a line to change in the dialogues. And I can tell you this is rare."
His take on past comic book movies (Daredevil):
"I think that was mainly realized they could be good! (laughs) Before it was a bit cynical: putting costumes on guys, use of licenses, and there will be public. And then they realized they could make crossovers and if they coped well, there was a lot more money to boot. At the time, nobody was trying to make a good movie. The DC Comics universe has a nice card to play today. There is room for DC, it's darker, and Marvel is lighter and a bit more fun. This has been in the DNA of these two companies for a long time, even before the films."
The biggest challenge of taking on the role of Batman:
"Honestly, it's the physical side. Because other actors have given everything before the public's expectations about what a superhero should look like, which are virtually impossible to achieve. I had to build muscle for a year for this film, it was a crazy job. It is almost 70% of taff. It must be all the time thinking of his regimen, it occupies a wild place in your head. I'm not complaining, I accepted the job. On the other hand, I can not tell you how pleased I was to eat a burger when filming was over!"
How his Batman differs from previous incarnations:
"Each was great in its genre. I tried not to think about it and I followed the instructions of Zack. I thought that if we were successful, they would not even compare with what was done before. I saw the movie and I think the result speaks for itself."
Working with Henry Cavill (Superman):
"It is a result of Man of Steel , so I landed in the world of Zack Snyder and Henry Cavill. In fact, we did not share many scenes with Henry, it was a bit the night shift and the day shift! We crossed our costumes, like working in the same company but do not trailed so often together. On the other hand, when we were in the same sequences, there was something electricity."
Having fun on set and taking a souvenir:
"Oh, so many! I totally took one of the batarangs. I put it in my pocket and they told me that I had earned it. The prop guy came to claim it and I told him no. I thought I had a sort of 'movie star pass' for this kind of thing. I stayed right in my boots and I flew me to Los Angeles! The guy was super pissed off: 'Let him go to hell Ben Affleck, which brings me the Batarang!' I've never visited. At the end of filming, Zack gave me a great gift, Batman's grapple gun. I was like a kid. Besides, it's fun, my son really thinks I'm Batman. And I do not know if these are the colors, but he is sure that the FedEx guy is the Joker. Whenever a package arrives, 'Daddy, the Joker is out!'"
Working with Jeremy Irons (Alfred Pennyworth) and Jesse Eisenberg (Lex Luthor):
"I've been a fan of Jeremy since high school, he's bluffing me completely. I knew it was going to ride with him alone and that I could rely on him to trigger real emotions in me. I hardly had to play, it came naturally. As for Jesse, his Lex Luthor is reminiscent of Kurt Cobain mixed with Larry Page, it's great. It makes me laugh that celebrates the uniqueness of our billionaires, let them do what they want by finding it quite charming. Without ever saying for a second that may be just great mentally ill!"
Working with Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman):
"Gal Gadot has operated the character of Wonder Woman on the screen and yet it is very difficult not to fall into the ridiculous. The border is extremely thin but she doing admirably well. The most impressive action sequences in the film are actually for her."
Joining the DCEU:
"I love this world and I like to participate. There I still have a few and I'm very excited about Justice League . I try not to think about it."
The possibility of a future Batman solo film:
"Theoretically yes, if the script is good, I am on it. But that is still far away for me, then I can only think the scene I'll turn Monday."
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice hits theaters everywhere March 25th, 2016.
Fearing the actions of a god-like super hero left unchecked, Gotham City’s own formidable, forceful vigilante takes on Metropolis’s most revered, modern-day savior, while the world wrestles with what sort of hero it really needs. And with Batman and Superman at war with one another, a new threat quickly arises, putting mankind in greater danger than it’s ever known before. Starring Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, with Amy Adams, Laurence Fishburne, Diane Lane, Jesse Eisenberg, Jeremy Irons, and Holly Hunter, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is directed by Zack Snyder, written by Chris Terrio from David S. Goyer's screenplay.