Photo Credit: Warner Bros.
Zack Snyder recently defended Ben Affleck‘s Batman, going so far as to say that the actor is the “best Bruce Wayne.”
What did Zack Snyder say about casting Ben Affleck as Batman?
Snyder sat down for an interview with Josh Horowitz of the Happy Sad Confused podcast for the 10th anniversary of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. The movie marked Affleck’s debut as Bruce Wayne/Batman, a polarizing decision still debated today.
Before he made that crucial casting decision, Snyder needed to convince himself that Affleck was right for the role. The casting process started with a picture.
“I did a drawing where I took Ben’s face, and I put the cowl on it,” Snyder said. “I know it sounds dumb, but I literally took a Sharpie and drew the cowl on top of some photocopy of Ben’s face. I guess I convinced myself in that moment that was the way.”
After Snyder drew that picture, it started to click that Affleck would be his Batman. More importantly, Snyder believed Affleck would be elite as the billionaire socialite of Gotham, a decision he still defends today.
“He’s the most obvious Bruce Wayne, I think, of all the Batmans,” Snyder explained. “Of anybody who’s played Batman, Ben is the best Bruce Wayne.”
As Snyder broke down what he wanted to see in Batman, Affleck’s physical traits lined up with the director’s preferences.
“He’s also all the things I like in a Batman. He’s legitimately a big dude, right? He’s 6’5” with his boots on,” Snyder explained. “He’s got that physicality that I always longed for in my cinematic Batman. I’ve always wanted him to be a brawler. I needed that. Even with what I did with the body and the suit and everything, I wanted him thick. I just wanted him to really be able to hurt you.”
Once Snyder saw the picture he made of Affleck as Batman, it was over. Affleck was his Bruce Wayne. Now, all he needed to do was convince Affleck to take on the iconic role.
“It did take convincing,” Snyder noted. “But once I was locked in on it, and I had those few lunches and conversations with Ben, I felt like he understood that I cared deeply about what I kind of graphically wanted Batman to be, and I think he saw that and was like, ‘All right, F— it. Let’s do it.’”
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is now streaming on HBO Max.
