Eesha Kulkarni

In a surprising turn of events, fans of the Dark Knight may be rejoicing as rumours circulate about the potential return of Ben Affleck to the iconic role of Batman. Affleck’s journey as the Caped Crusader has been tumultuous, marked by highs and lows, but recent developments suggest that his time as Batman is far from over.

Speculation about Affleck’s future as Batman first emerged following his appearance in DC’s The Flash movie, which seemingly marked the end of his run as the vigilante superhero. However, renowned filmmaker and Affleck’s close friend, Kevin Smith, recently addressed the topic on his Fatman Beyond podcast, sparking renewed hope among fans.

Smith revealed that Affleck had expressed his fondness for the character, mentioning that he had just begun to fully understand and embrace the role before it came to an end. However, Smith also acknowledged the existence of the multiverse in DC, leaving open the possibility of Affleck donning the cape and cowl once again in the future.

While Affleck’s return to the Batman franchise remains uncertain, there are suggestions that he may be interested in portraying an older version of the Dark Knight in adaptations of Frank Miller’s seminal work, The Dark Knight Returns. Affleck’s affinity for this storyline has been well-documented, with him reportedly reading the comic during the production of the film Chasing Amy.

The recent revelation that Affleck filmed scenes for the upcoming Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom alongside Jason Momoa’s Aquaman has further fueled speculation. Momoa’s enthusiastic comments about their on-set experience and the mention of multiple Batmans appearing in the film have left fans eagerly anticipating the final product.

However, reports suggest that Warner Bros. faced challenges in deciding which Batman to include in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. Test screenings of the film allegedly omitted both Michael Keaton’s and Affleck’s Batman, leading to speculation that the anticipated cameos might have been eliminated during the editing process.

As fans eagerly await the release of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom in December 2023, the question remains: will Ben Affleck reprise his role as Batman? While concrete details are scarce, the possibility of his return to the beloved character has sparked excitement among supporters of the SnyderVerse and fans of Affleck’s portrayal of the Dark Knight.

As the DC Multiverse continues to expand and evolve, only time will tell whether Affleck’s Batman will once again rise from the shadows. Until then, fans can only hope that their favourite version of the Dark Knight will make a triumphant return to the silver screen.