Setelah beberapa spekulasi yang melibatkan nama-nama seperti Josh Brolin, Matthew Goode hingga Jon Hamm, Warner Bros. akhirnya mengumumkan nama aktor yang mereka pilih untuk memerankan karakter Bruce Wayne/Batman dalam sekuel ‘Man of Steel’ yang akan dirilis pada musim panas tahun 2015 mendatang... and it’s Ben Affleck! No one’s saw that coming for sure. Aktor berusia 41 tahun yang pernah memenangkan dua Academy Awards itu sendiri akan menggantikan posisi Christian Bale dan menjadi aktor kedelapan yang memerankan karakter Bruce Wayne/Batman dalam sebuah film setelah Bale, George Clooney, Val Kilmer, Michael Keaton, Adam West, Robert Lowery dan Lewis Wilson.

“Kami tahu bahwa film ini membutuhkan sesosok aktor yang luar biasa dalam memerankan salah satu karakter ikonik DC Comics. Ben Affleck jelas memiliki semua kriteria yang diperlukan,” ujar presiden Warner Bros., Greg Silverman, dalam pernyataan yang dirilis oleh Warner Bros., Jum’at (23/8) pagi.

Diarahkan oleh Zack Snyder, sekuel ‘Man of Steel’ yang akan menampilkan karakter Superman dan Batman dalam satu film tersebut akan dirilis pada 17 Juli 2015 dengan Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Laurence Fishburne dan Diane Lane akan kembali memerankan karakter mereka masing-masing. Snyder akan menulis naskah cerita film bersama dengan David S. Goyer. Proses produksi sendiri diperkirakan akan dimulai pada awal tahun 2014.

Berikut pernyataan resmi dari Warner Bros. yang berkaitan dengan pemilihan Ben Affleck untuk memerankan karakter Bruce Wayne/Batman:

BEN AFFLECK REVEALED AS BATMAN
August 22, 2013 at 6:19pm
BEN AFFLECK REVEALED AS BATMAN IN WARNER BROS. PICTURES’ NEW SUPER HERO FEATURE FILM, NOW SLATED TO OPEN JULY 17, 2015

The Oscar®-winning star joins Henry Cavill in the first ever onscreen match-up of DC Comics’ most iconic characters.

BURBANK, CA, August 22, 2013 – Ending weeks of speculation, Ben Affleck has been set to star as Batman, a.k.a. Bruce Wayne. Affleck and filmmaker Zack Snyder will create an entirely new incarnation of the character in Snyder’s as-yet-untitled project—bringing Batman and Superman together for the first time on the big screen and continuing the director’s vision of their universe, which he established in “Man of Steel.” The announcement was made today by Greg Silverman, President, Creative Development and Worldwide Production, and Sue Kroll, President, Worldwide Marketing and International Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures.

The studio has slated the film to open worldwide on July 17, 2015.

Last month’s surprise announcement of the new movie featuring both Superman and Batman created a wave of excitement and immediately fueled discussion and debate—among fans as well as in the media—about who would put on the cape and cowl of Bruce Wayne’s alter ego.

Snyder successfully re-imagined the origin of Clark Kent/Superman in the worldwide blockbuster “Man of Steel,” which has earned more than $650 million worldwide to date, and climbing. The director will now create an original vision of Batman and his world for the film that brings the two DC Comics icons together.

Affleck will star opposite Henry Cavill, who will reprise the role of Superman/Clark Kent. The film will also reunite “Man of Steel” stars Amy Adams, Laurence Fishburne and Diane Lane.

In the announcement, Silverman stated, “We knew we needed an extraordinary actor to take on one of DC Comics’ most enduringly popular Super Heroes, and Ben Affleck certainly fits that bill, and then some. His outstanding career is a testament to his talent and we know he and Zack will bring new dimension to the duality of this character.”

Snyder also expressed his excitement about the casting of Affleck, noting, “Ben provides an interesting counter-balance to Henry’s Superman. He has the acting chops to create a layered portrayal of a man who is older and wiser than Clark Kent and bears the scars of a seasoned crime fighter, but retain the charm that the world sees in billionaire Bruce Wayne. I can’t wait to work with him.”

Kroll added, “We are so thrilled that Ben is continuing Warner Bros.’ remarkable legacy with the character of Batman. He is a tremendously gifted actor who will make this role his own in this already much-anticipated pairing of these two beloved heroes.”

Affleck recently starred in the Academy Award®-winning Best Picture “Argo,” which he also directed and produced, earning acclaim and a BAFTA Award nomination for his performance in the film, as well as a number of directing honors. In 2010, he starred in and directed the hit crime thriller “The Town.” His recent acting work also includes “The Company Men,” “State of Play,” and “Hollywoodland,” for which he received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor. Earlier in his career, Affleck starred in and co-wrote (with Matt Damon) “Good Will Hunting,” for which he won an Oscar® for Best Original Screenplay.

The new Super Hero film is being scripted by David S. Goyer from a story he co-created with Zack Snyder. Charles Roven and Deborah Snyder are producing, with Benjamin Melniker, Michael E. Uslan and Wesley Coller serving as executive producers. Production is expected to begin in 2014.

The film is based on Superman characters created by Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster, and Batman characters created by Bob Kane, published by DC Entertainment.