The hashtag #ThanksBatfleck has been trending on Twitter as fans are showing appreciation for Ben Affleck’s Batman from the DCEU. The hashtag comes shortly after an interview with Affleck where he confirmed that The Flash would be his final appearance as Batman.
Affleck made his debut as Bruce Wayne/Batman in Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice, where he duked it out with Henry Cavill’s Superman before uniting at the end. He also appeared in both versions of Justice League, which was the last time we saw him as the Bat. He is set to return in The Flash film starring Ezra Miller as Barry Allen, who Affleck recruited to the Justice League.
Affleck was originally set to direct and star in a Batman solo film. However, he later stepped away from the film and the role, leading to Matt Reeves stepping in to direct and Robert Pattinson taking over Batman duties. According to Affleck himself in an interview with The Herald Sun, his time filming Justice League with Joss Whedon was a “very, very, very hard experience” that led to a relapse in his drinking and led to him ultimately pulling out of the role.
The Flash may be Affleck’s final outing as Batman
In the interview, he also expressed that the reshoots he did for Zack Snyder’s Justice League and filming for The Flash “put a really nice finish on my experience with that character.”
Of course, many fans heard this and believe that this is Affleck confirming that this is his final performance as Batman. The fans then took to social media to share their appreciation for this version of Batman and Affleck’s performance itself.
However, some fans remain hopeful that Affleck may decide to revisit the role later in his career. Since other former superheroes have recently returned, including Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man in Spider-Man: No Way Home and Michael Keaton, who is returning as Batman for The Flash as well, it’s not impossible that Affleck could step back into Batman’s leather boots.
Even if this is Affleck’s final outing as this character, we have Pattinson in The Batman to look forward to. Affleck gave fans plenty of great moments, including the warehouse fight in Batman V. Superman and the batmobile taking down parademons in Justice League.
The Flash is set to debut in theaters on Nov. 4, 2022. It is directed by Andy Muschietti and stars Sasha Calle, Kiersey Clemons, and Ron Livingston.