There are some characters on screen which become synonymous with the actors who play them. From there on it becomes a challenge for the production houses as well as the audiences to accept someone else in that role.
For instance, when Robert Downing Jr. decided not to sign on any more Iron Man franchise movies, there were talks that stand-alone Iron Man movies may not include his character Tony Stark and a new character who could be Tony’s brother may take his place. It’s not an easy decision is it? After all I wouldn’t want to see anyone else as Iron Man, would you?
Such is the case with Batman and Christian Bale as well. Ironically Bale is not the first actor to play the role. There have been other successful batmans in the past. But call it the brilliance of Christopher Nolan’s direction or the magnetic appeal of Christian Bale on screen, when the two decided to call it quits after The Dark Knight Rises, it seemed like the end for Batman. It was all too perfect. Robin had been introduced and Bruce Wayne had survived a nuclear warhead blow-up, Alfred had seen him across the table, happy and with the Catwoman. So why would they not want to continue?
In most cases an actor is signed on for a three movie deal and once the deal is over the character continues to live and the actor hands over the baton to someone else. We didn’t mind when Andrew Garfield took over from Tobey Maguire to play the flying spider-man. But Ben Affleck as batman, well that seems a different case.
Ben Affleck is not really a bad actor. Agreed in the name of superhero flicks what he picked was a disaster (remember Daredevil?) but who knows, he may still be able to pull off Batman. Nobody thought that Daniel Craig will be able to live up to the James Bond character. Today he is going strong as 007 and has got a good fan base as well.
To help matters for Affleck, he is not doing a stand-alone batman film. He is going to be paired up with Superman (how we simply love two superheros fighting together to save the world). The first look of Affleck as batman has been revealed and he doesn’t look terrible. For argument sake, with a black suit covering you completely and you striking a pose one doesn’t expect anyone to go wrong.
Ben Affleck himself said that one of the reasons he took up the movie was because Daredevil was so bashed up by critics. He probably wants to redeem himself in the superhero world.
At the end of the day, Warner Bros didn’t really have a choice. They did everything in their power to convince Christian Bale to wear that black suit again but if the man doesn’t want to do it he doesn’t. No amount of coaxing or cash could get him to sign for the movie, so a new guy had to be hired to do the same. The movie titled Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice comes out in May 2016.
The question though remains could Warner Bros have done better?