Ben Affleck Rejects James Gunn After Controversy

Ben Affleck recently ruled out directing an upcoming DC movie under the new regime headed by James Gunn and Peter Safran.

 


 

“I would not direct something for the [James] Gunn DC. Absolutely not,” the “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice” star told THR. “I have nothing against James Gunn. 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.”

The Oscar-winning “Argo” filmmaker was attached to direct his own “Batman” movie for a couple of years after taking on the role of the Caped Crusader in front of the camera for Zack Snyder. He eventually decided to depart that project altogether as Matt Reeves stepped in and rebooted the property with Robert Pattinson in the lead role.

In December, Gunn said he and Safran met with Affleck to discuss working together, saying “we want him to direct; we just have to find the right project.” It seems that appears Affleck has no interest in revisiting the DC universe in any form or fashion.

Affleck, whose next directorial effort is the character drama “Air” in which he stars opposite Matt Damon, told THR that making “Justice League” was what convinced him to bow out of directing a Batman movie.

But Affleck had praise for the four-hour “Snyder Cut” of the film that was released on HBO Max four years later.Affleck noted that “Zack Snyder’s Justice League” is the highest-rated movie on his IMDb. Still, he has no interest in revisiting the superhero genre. Life’s too short.

“You want to go to work and find something interesting to hang onto, rather than just wearing a rubber suit, and most of it you’re just standing against the computer screen going, ‘If this nuclear waste gets loose, we’ll …’ That’s fine. I don’t condescend to that or put it down, but I got to a point where I found it creatively not satisfying,” he said of his decision to step away. “Also just, you’re sweaty and exhausted. And I thought, ‘I don’t want to participate in this in any way. And I don’t want to squander any more of my life, of which I have a limited amount.’”

Barry Russell
Barry Russell
A dedicated pro wrestling follower for more than a decade

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