As you probably already know Ben Affleck is again back as Batman and attached to the new Zack Snyder release of Justice League at HBO Max, the recently launched streaming service from AT&T and Warner Bros. We know that the release of the Snyder cut of the movie may involve new voice over for many members of the crew in Snyder’s version on Justice league but there may be more to Ben Afflect’s participation than just voice over.
There is a new claim that Afflect has already signed a new contract to return as Batman and that Affleck will be involved in additional appearances related to HBO Max and Zack Snyder’s Justice League movies. Taylor Murphy of The Cultured Nerd is unwavering in his claim that Afflect has signed a new contract with the WB.
“Ben has indeed signed a new contract and he is coming back,” says Taylor Murphy of The Cultured Nerd. “The official announcement is expected to happen either at DC FanDome or during JusticeCon. One of the two, we’re going to get that announcement but it’s going to happen before September. We’re going to get the official announcement and we are going to get the Snyderverse Batman is going to be returning.”
(Taylor Murphy – Founder – Editor-in-Chief – IG Admin – Instagram @TheCulturedNerd:
The Cultured Nerd was first established in early 2013 as a branch of Waking Ideas, a digital production group that began in 2005. Its goal was to provide daily breaking news content, weekly editorials, and a bi-weekly podcast.)
Murphy says that Michael Keaton was not brought in to replace Ben Affleck as Batman, as well as Robert Pattinson being a replacement, but it is being done to help in the HBO Max’ creation of a DC Multiverse. There can be different versions of Batman and all the characters of the DC Universe.
“They are bringing everybody back,” says Murphy. “This is planned… This is a design because of Zack. This is a plan that they’re moving forward with. I mean, I keep saying it is a great time to be a DC fan.”
Murphy suggests that the artwork released with the DC FanDome virtual convention looks like the DC Multiverse and this is the direction they want to go:
Now that Zack Snyder is back and the Snyder Cut is getting released, Ben Affleck has agreed to return as Batman on HBO Max.
Murphy says Affleck agreed to return as Batman on HBO Max because he didn’t want to take anything away from the new Robert Pattinson Batman who is starring in the upcoming Matt Reeves movie.
“I think a lot of people misconstrued why he left in the first place,” explains Murphy. “A lot of people will say, ‘Oh, Ben left because he almost killed himself in the role…’ They take it further than it really was. Essentially, Ben took the role because of Zack. Zack convinced him, he sold him on the pitch, he loved the idea, and he built that loyalty to Zack. When Zack left, Ben still stayed behind. He said, ‘I can make this work. I’ll do this. I’m still producing this. I’m going to make it happen.’ But ‘it’ started happening to him, too. He started losing his control — what he wanted to do with the role, he started losing it, and then he lost his interest in it. Eventually, his own health concerns came up and he realized if he kept going down this path, he wouldn’t get what he wanted, he wouldn’t get to do the role he signed up for, and it was just compromise after compromise.”
Murphy continues:
“He didn’t want to compromise so he backed out but then the magic happened. Zack came back, came back in full force,” says Murphy. “All the people that caused the issues, to begin with, are gone. Zack is back. He’s making his movie. They pretty much gave him a blank check to finish Zack Snyder’s Justice League… So giving that level of trust back to Zack Snyder was a huge moment for Ben, and having the idea that Zack is back on control of his project, and the idea that he can then move forward with the project that Zack wanted to make, the Batman movie he wanted to make and have Zack in his corner, that was enough to sell him of the return.”
These are bold claims but go along with the direction I see HBO Max going. This is an effort to create some original content and be one of the best streaming services in entertainment. I wish them the best and hope that this new direction will benefit us all with quality films and programs.