Ben Affleck is Batman. Ben Affleck has quit the role. Ben Affleck wants to segue out of the role. Jake Gyllenhaal is taking over. Maybe. Yes, Jake Gyllenhaal is Batman… possibly?
The rumour mill surrounding DC Comics most bankable box office star continues to churn. With Matt Reeves quietly working on the script for The Batman fans and press continue to spread rumours of who will don the cape and cowl.
During the press tour for Justice League Affleck had commented that it wasn’t a role he would play forever. He politely said in the future he would look for a way to segue out of the role. That led to rumours that his next appearance, the final on his DC Films contract, would see him step away from the character.
Rumours last week point to that appearance either being Flashpoint which features the character in its prologue and epilogue only. Or the soon to enter production Suicide Squad 2.
This latest rumour one again puts actor Jake Gyllenhaal in the frame to take over from Affleck.
An article on Revenge of the Fans picked up by most mainstream comics news sites gives an update on the relationship between Warner Bros. and Affleck:
“Gyllenhaal is probably Batman. Affleck is not out of it yet. That’s the thing, he still has a contract. But the studio is sour on him. If Ben rolls, Jake is in. Kind of a weird web. These guys both know they control each other’s destiny.”
Take this news with a grain of salt as it comes from an unnamed source. Could Warner be annoyed with Affleck’s supposed toing and froing on the role? How much of his flip flopping is real and not just the press stirring up rumours for headlines?