Batman Star Ben Affleck Says Justice League Reshoots Were the Lowest Point of His Career

Ben Affleck, the star of Batman, has criticized Warner Bros. for their handling of the production of Justice League, stating that it was the lowest point of his career. When discussing a previously canceled standalone Batman film that would have starred Joe Manganiello as Deathstroke, Affleck expressed his initial excitement for the project but admitted that the experience of working on Justice League led him to disengage from the idea of directing a DC movie.

According to Affleck, the negative experience of Justice League stemmed from multiple factors, including his personal challenges, the tragedy that occurred during the film's production, and the studio's conflict with the director. He emphasized that his decision to step away from the Batman role and pass it to Matt Reeves and Robert Pattinson was influenced by the chaotic and negative environment during Justice League's creation.

The reshoots, overseen by Joss Whedon after Zack Snyder's departure due to personal tragedy, were particularly detrimental. Affleck alleged that Warner Bros. exploited Snyder's family crisis as an excuse to alter the film's tone and story, describing the reshoots as among the "sh**tiest things" he had witnessed. He also noted that he was aware of reports of mistreatment of actors during the reshoots, adding that the overall atmosphere was extremely unpleasant.

Affleck's career was further complicated by personal issues, including a divorce and alcoholism, which added to the tumultuous period. Consequently, he decided not to direct his own Batman film, ultimately returning to the role in The Flash and providing additional scenes for the director's cut of Justice League. While Snyder has since expressed regret over the handling of the situation, the negative impact of the entire experience seems unlikely to be resolved anytime soon.