Written By Kieran Bugg
DC Studios offered a disappointing update about Ben Affleck’s involvement in the upcoming Batman film, The Brave and the Bold. With DC Studios’ co-CEO James Gunn‘s reboot, obviously nobody expected Affleck to suit up again. DC Studios announced The Brave and the Bold during their slate reveal. Named after the long-running Batman team-up book, fans hoped Affleck would at least direct it.
Nope.
At this point, keep your expectations low about DC Studios. After all, they’re recasting Henry Cavill’s Superman. That already sucked the air out of the room. Cutting it pretty close, Gunn finally fulfilled his promise and revealed the first chapter of his DC Studios slate.
As expected, Gunn’s upcoming Man of Steel reboot was finally announced with the official title, Superman: Legacy. Moreover, he further went on to reveal nine other projects that are currently in active development. A majority of which will be centered around some of DC’s more well-known characters.
DC Studios Delivers Sad Update About Ben Affleck’s Role In New Batman Movie
Image: Warner Bros. Discovery
So far, the various movies and TV shows announced includes Supergirl: Woman Of Tomorrow, Lanterns, Paradise Lost, Booster Gold, Swamp Thing, and Waller.
In addition, an animated series and a live-action film which focuses on two obscure teams from DC’s lore were revealed. These were Creature Commandos and The Authority. Both are relatively unknown to most fans and were a unexpected surprise.
Nonetheless, Gunn has become famous for adapting the more absurd comics characters and turning them into household names. Out of all the upcoming DC Studios projects that were revealed, the most exciting unsurprisingly involves the Dark Knight himself. Among all these revelations was a movie titled The Brave and the Bold.
This reboot will introduce the world to DC Studios’ definitive take on the Caped Crusader. As Gunn previously said, DC Studios will feature a new version of the character separate from Robert Pattinson’s take.
Furthermore, The Brave and the Bold will also introduce the first live action interpretation of Batman’s son, Damian Wayne. The most recent character to take up the mantle of Robin in the comics.
Damian’s mother is revealed to be Talia Al Ghul, daughter of one of Batman’s most dangerous foes Ra’s Al Ghul. Speaking about The Brave and the Bold, Gunn explained:
“This is the introduction of the DCU’s Batman. It is not Robert Pattinson. It is not Ben Affleck. We’re working with Robert on Batman 2 and dealing with that with Matt Reeves, and we’re working with Ben Affleck, who really wants to be… has been a part of our architectural team trying to bring things together and he really wants to direct one of our projects and we’re excited for him doing that, but this is the story of Damian Wayne, who is Batman’s actual son who we didn’t know existed for the first eight to ten years of his life.”
Damian Wayne made his first comic book appearance in Batman No. 655 in 2006. He would later take up the Boy Wonder mantle two issues later.
DC Studios Delivers Sad Update About Ben Affleck’s Role In New Batman Movie
Image: Warner Bros. Discovery
Gunn also revealed that the movie will take inspiration from Grant Morrison’s comic-book run.
He said:
“He was raised as a little murderer and assassin. He’s a little son of a b-tch. He’s my favorite Robin, it’s based on the Grant Morrison comic book’s run, which is one of my favorite Batman runs, and we are putting that all together right now.”
The Brave and the Bold will also set the stage for other famous members of the Batman Family.
On the other hand, what it won’t have is Affleck, even behind-the-scenes. When asked if Affleck will participate even on a creative level, DC Studios co-CEO Peter Safran admitted:
“No, no, no, no. We’re just talking to Ben in general about stuff.”
While they’re in discussions with Affleck to work on a DCU project, this Batman picture isn’t among them.