Ben Affleck gets candid about what was the most challenging aspect of playing Batman in theDCEU. Playing an iconic superhero likeBatman in live-actionis something only a handful of actors can claim to have done, even though the Caped Crusader has had his fair share of interpretations on the big screen. The last star to appear as Bruce Wayne on the big screen was Affleck inThe Flash, who starred in multiple DCEU films before the franchise came to an end in 2023.
In a new interview withGQ, where Affleck looked back at his past films, the former DCEU star was asked if the Batsuit he wore inThe Flashmovie was his favorite one. However, it instead led to Affleck confessing that he hated wearing the Batsuits in general, as he gave the following explanation:
I hated the batsuits. The batsuits are horrendous to wear. They’re incredibly hot, for one thing. They don’t breathe. They’re made to look the way they want ‘em to look, and there’s no thought put into the human being. You just start sweating” from the moment that you put on the outfit. Now I’m already — I sweat, you know what I mean? I get hot. And so in that thing, you would just be pouring water because it’s got the cowl over it.Like, there’s one thing to wear the suit, but once you cover your head, I guess that’s where all your heat kind of escapes and you feel it.
Even the most highly-trained, much more fit stunt guys, the parkour guys, the action guys, they could do that for about like 45, 50 minutes and then they’re like gonna get heat stroke. So you had to come out of it. And that was really the thing was that it just made it difficult to make the movie because it was so hot.And it also does not make you feel very heroic because you’re instantly exhaustedand really sweaty and kinda trying to hide like, the sweat pouring down your face. Like, ‘No, we can go again, I’m fine, I’m good,’ And then there’ll be like — eye black is like, running.
What Ben Affleck’s Batman Comments Mean For His DC Legacy
While Affleck gave a very extensive explanation of his uncomfortable experience with the Batsuits,it’s crucial to remember that this is not him commenting on the creative side of playing Batman in the DCEU. It’s key to take into account that, as impressive as many of these superhero costumes look, it’s always a different experience for the actors to actually be wearing them, which is easier said than done. Affleck could both love playing the role, and have issues when it comes to the practicalities of wearingthe Batsuits on screen.
For anyone who followedthe DCEU movie timeline, they can look at several home media release featurettes of B-roll footage where actors have people helping them put the suits on,showcasing just how complex the costumes can be. Affleck wasn’t exactly wearing light costumes made of spandex, as his Batman was far along into his crusade as a superhero. All of Affleck’s Batsuits were meant to allow Bruce to deal with super-powered individuals, meaning the costume designers had to verify they crafted suits that would look believable, even if it meant the actor had to be uncomfortable in them.
Our Take On Ben Affleck’s Batman Comments
While it’s understandable to hear Affleck didn’t have the best time wearing the Batsuits, it doesn’t take away from the fact that he gave some incredible performances in the DCEU andthe Snyder-verse franchiseas Batman. Whether or not the next Batsuit in live-action will be a bit easier to wear for whoever becomes the DC Universe’s Caped Crusader remains to be seen. But hopefully, after Affleck’sDCEUcomments, DC Studios will take into account how they design the next Batsuit in live-action.
DC Universe
The DC Universe is one of the biggest comic book franchises and often competes with Marvel. DC Comics started as National Allied Publications, founded by Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson in 1935. Since then, the franchise has exploded with thousands of comic books, movies, TV shows, and video games. 2013 marked the beginning of the most recent iteration of the superheroes, with Zack Snyder introducing Henry Cavill as Superman. After several movies with mixed reviews, DC underwent a soft reboot under the helm of James Gunn and Peter Safran.
