So even after re-establishing cred in Hollywood with smart thrillers like Gone Baby Gone and Argo, it seems many are still floored at Ben Affleck’s recent Batman casting announcement.
As soon as Warner Bros’ Greg Silverman announced the 41-year-old actor-director would play opposite Henry Cavill’s Superman in a cross-over film, saying, “We knew we needed an extraordinary actor to take on one of DC Comics’ most enduringly popular superheroes, and Ben Affleck certainly fits that bill,”; Ben’s peers flooded social media with hilarious references to Daredevil and his other flop Gigli.
But Ben’s not joking around! A source tells Us Weekly that the Oscar-winner has been working up a sweat to get buff for the role, training “two hours a day”; to transform his physique.
Man of Steel director Zack Snyder is set to helm the sequel set for release July 2015 and had this to say in the WB release: “Ben provides an interesting counterbalance to Henry’s Superman. He has the acting chops to create a layered portrayal of a man who is older and wiser than Clark Kent and bears the scars of a seasoned crime fighter, but retain the charm that the world sees in billionaire Bruce Wayne. I can’t wait to work with him.”;
Now, sit back and enjoy some of the most LOL #BATFLECK tweets below!
You read for a part, you feel good about it, you feel confident, then they cast Ben Affleck.
— Richard Dreyfuss (@RichardDreyfuss) August 23, 2013
Wrote Richard Dreyfuss, and Chris Rock shared his sentiment:
I want to congratulate Ben affleck on winning the part of batman it was some battle but you won fair and square .
— Chris Rock (@chrisrock) August 23, 2013
While film critic Stephen Whitty had his own casting ideas:
Oh please, why not just cast J Lo as Catwoman, too, and REALLY torpedo the whole thing.
— Stephen Whitty (@StephenWhitty) August 23, 2013
As did Twitter sensation Patton Oswalt:
So my #AndrewDiceBatman campaign failed, it would seem. #hickorydickoryGotham
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) August 23, 2013
Even Arrow actor Stephen Amell got in on the game:
I’m now totally confident I’ll eventually play Iron Man.
— Stephen Amell (@amellywood) August 23, 2013