![Ben Affleck Reveals Why He Left ‘The Batman’](https://townsquare.media/site/442/files/2017/06/Ben-Affleck-as-Batman.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Ben Affleck Reveals Why He Left ‘The Batman’
It’s been over a year since Ben Affleck publicly announced that he was stepping away from Matt Reeves’ gritty standalone superhero movie The Batman, paving the way for Robert Pattinson to assume the role. But now we have learned the real reason why Affleck decided to exit the project. In a new interview with The New York Times, Affleck revealed that he didn’t want to put himself at risk of alcoholism again. Said Affleck: “I showed somebody the Batman script. They said, ‘I think the script is good. I also think you’ll drink yourself to death if you go through what you just went through again.’”
Affleck was originally supposed to direct and star in The Batman, continuing the small string of movies where he played the character. He appeared as Batman in Justice League in 2017, following his debut in the DC Extended Universe in 2016’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. But even before Justice League’s underwhelming performance at the box office, Reeves had already stepped in as director for The Batman with an updated script. It wasn’t until January of 2019 that Affleck left the movie entirely.
Affleck’s next movie is sports drama The Way Back, which follows a downtrodden man’s recovery from alcoholism as he coaches his alma mater’s high school basketball team. “I’ve never been very risk-averse — for better or worse, obviously,” said Affleck. “Regarding The Way Back, the benefits, to me, far outweighed the risks. I found it very therapeutic.”
The Way Back hits theaters March 6, 2020.
Gallery — A Visual History of Batman in Movies:
More From KISS FM
![Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck Are Officially Married!](http://townsquare.media/site/252/files/2022/07/attachment-jennifer-lopez-ben-affleck.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Actor Robert Pattinson Hosts Batman Party at Pete Davidson’s Bar, Plays Multiple Kanye West Songs – Report](http://townsquare.media/site/812/files/2022/03/attachment-pete-davidson-robert-pattison-kanye-west.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![‘The Batman’ Has Best Opening Weekend of 2022 So Far](http://townsquare.media/site/442/files/2022/02/attachment-the-batman-img-4.jpeg?w=980&q=75)
![Hawkman and Dr. Fate Debut in New DC Films Trailer](http://townsquare.media/site/442/files/2022/02/attachment-dc-hawkman-fate.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Little Caesars Announces ‘The Batman’ Tie-In Food That’s Part Pizza, Part Calzone](http://townsquare.media/site/442/files/2022/01/attachment-Little_Caesars_Pizza_The_Batman_Calzony.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![10 Famous Actors Who Lied To Get Movie And TV Roles](http://townsquare.media/site/442/files/2021/12/attachment-attachment-Actors-Who-Lied-For-Roles.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Jennifer Garner Went Trick-or-Treating Together With Ex Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez](http://townsquare.media/site/252/files/2021/11/attachment-Untitled-design-90.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Kristen Stewart Not ‘Stoked’ About Idea to Play the Joker to Robert Pattinson’s Batman](http://townsquare.media/site/252/files/2021/10/attachment-kristen-stewart-robert-pattinson-batman-e1634824600466.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![‘The Batman’ Trailer Introduces a New Dark Knight](http://townsquare.media/site/442/files/2021/10/attachment-the-batman-new-fandome-trailer.jpg?w=980&q=75)