7 Ways That Ben Affleck’s Batman Can Be Replaced In The DCEU

Before you set off on your diatribe about how we're perpetuating fake news and that Ben Affleck confirmed he'll stay on as Batman, let us say our piece first. He might not be leaving after Justice League, or maybe he might after The Batman. The fact is, no one knows the entire truth but him and the studio at this point in time. Affleck is our favorite Batman, but we must prepare for all possibilities and understand it won't be the end of the world if he does decide to hightail it. Who knows, his replacement could be even better than him? That said, we've racked our brains over all the possibilities of how his exit can be handled in an adequate way. Some of our suggestions may seem fairly straightforward, while others will require some groundwork laid by the other films in the DCEU. Nonetheless, we believe there are various solutions that could work well here. As always, we welcome your thoughts on this controversial topic and hold no grudges if you disagree with our opinions. So, please do leave your musings in the comments section. We really do hope it's Batfleck forever. But if not, these are some of the ways that he can be replaced in the DCEU. Passing The Mantle To Dick Grayson This is probably the most obvious choice of the lot - yet the most risky. Comic book fans have been afforded the opportunity to see Dick Grayson suit up as Batman several times, but this will be a foreign concept to the film audience. Are people ready for the former Boy Wonder to assume the mantle of the Dark Knight? We're not so sure. In order to pull this off, Chris McKay's Nightwing movie will need to be fast-tracked and Warner Bros. better hope whoever is chosen in the role is universally loved by the public. If the actor becomes another smashing success, like Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, then they have nothing to worry about and can proceed with him as Batsy. However, if he's anywhere as divisive as Jared Leto's Joker, then it might not be the wisest choice. Personally, we'd love to see Grayson become the Bat at some point in the DCEU. He's a legendary character that deserves the chance to be immortalized in at least one film as the Caped Crusader, and we're suckers for the student becoming the master narrative. On a side note, we were thinking about making a Dick joke here, but we resisted the urge this time round. Recast The Batman What we're suggesting here is a straight-up recast. No need to change the storyline or write Affleck's Batman out gracefully; just a like-for-like recast without a narrative explanation. It's been done before in the MCU (Don Cheadle replacing Terrence Howard as James Rhodes/War Machine and Mark Ruffalo taking over from Edward Norton as Bruce Banner/Hulk are two major examples), and it can be executed here as well. There are tons of actors in Affleck's age group who'd kill for the opportunity to portray the Dark Knight. If his heart is no longer in it, get someone else who wants it. There's no shortage of talent, either, and the likes of Richard Armitage and Jon Hamm could easily pull off the role and make fans out of us. Since 1989, we've had five actors portray the Bat. Out of those individuals, we'll say only one has been stupendously dreadful (sorry, George), so the chances are good that whoever takes over will know what he's stepping into. As we said before, it won't be the end of the world if Affleck's recast - just a bit of an Internet meltdown, but all will be okay once the storm passes. Flashpoint Yes, we know that Flashpoint is an alternate timeline with Thomas Wayne as Batman and Martha as the Joker, so settle down, Susan, and hear us out for a second. Knowing how things have panned out so far, the forthcoming Flash film, Flashpoint, will probably deviate from the source material and provide the opportunity for a soft reboot of sorts. If you think about it, it's the perfect way to introduce a younger Bruce Wayne/Batman into the DCEU due to the effects of Flashpoint as well. Say Barry has done all he needs to do in the other timeline and jogs on back to his reality, but causes a ripple in time and boom! Suddenly Gotham City and Bruce are taken back a few decades because of it, leading to a possible Watchmen-influenced storyline in the future as well. We already know that New 52 took 10 years from the characters' lives, so it's entirely possible the film universe will explore a similar concept. At the same time, this could also fix the big Joker problem and remove the stupid tattoos and Ace Ventura mannerisms from Jared Leto's character. See, a soft reboot doesn't always need to spell bad news or the end of the world for a universe. Batman Beyond It's been in the pipeline since forever, but a Batman Beyond film hasn't come to fruition yet. With the current Bruce Wayne nearing 50 in the DCEU, it's logical that he might be looking for a young whippersnapper to take over the crime-fighting gig soon. Sure, we're not quite there in the techno-future world of Batman Beyond, but Terry McGinnis could appear now and still wear the badass suit. Or maybe it might be set in the future after all. The fact that Flashpoint is coming shows that Warner Bros. is no longer afraid of DC's rich (and often confusing) history. It opens up the door for deeper, diverse storylines and worlds to be explored. Undoubtedly, the Batman of the future arc will be a temptation too strong for Geoff Johns and company to resist. If it were to happen, though, it's likely to be in the final film of Matt Reeves' purported Batman trilogy. This would allow him to tell his Dark Knight tale and pass the torch to the next phase of the DCEU, thus allowing Affleck the chance to step away and let another version of the Bat continue. It's a win-win situation for everyone. Kill Him…Well, Batman, Not Affleck If the DCEU has shown us anything, it's that it's unafraid of offing its characters without any remorse. Honestly, did you expect Superman to die in Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice? We barely knew the guy and we were already burying him two movies into the universe. Sheesh, talk about heartless… Consequently, don't be surprised if Affleck's Batman gives his life at the end of Justice League to save his team from an otherworldly threat. One of the key themes of the DCEU has been sacrifice. We've seen Steve Trevor, Superman, and our ten-second savior Slipknot give their lives in this universe, so what's stopping the filmmakers from killing Batman? His time is coming - mark our words. Whether Warner Bros. pulls the trigger in the forthcoming film or a later one, something will eventually happen to the Bat. And what better way to give Affleck his out from the DCEU than through a glorious and heroic death? After all, he's always been left with survivor's guilt in his other films - cough, Pearl Harbor, cough, Armageddon, cough - so he could receive his big death scene now. The Bat Family We already know the Batverse is coming to the DCEU and the Bat Family will be making their mark in the near future. Now, imagine if their leader extraordinaire is gone and they all need to step up and fill his boots? Sounds like an interesting concept, doesn't it? While we would certainly welcome a Battle for the Cowl-inspired storyline, there are so many other avenues for this story to travel down as well. We could easily delve into the aspect of Batman being a symbol rather than a man - first introduced by Christopher Nolan in The Dark Knight trilogy - and how he inspires a legacy of characters to continue his work. This means you wouldn't need to have one titular hero, but a bunch of them. There have been numerous instances where the Bat has disappeared for a long period of time and his minions have had to fill in for him in the comic book world. So, why should it be any different in this universe? If we're going to play in Gotham City, let's open up all the doors and bring out all the characters. Give Affleck A Long Vacation This is our most preferred option of the lot. Warner Bros. could put Batman plans on the backburner and let Affleck take some much-needed time off. He's had his fair share of personal struggles and the man looks tired and jaded right now. He's renowned for being a workaholic and maybe all he needs is a long rest to recharge those batteries and center himself again. When he's feeling fresh and ready to go, then open up discussions about other Batman movies. Chances are if he's had significant time to catch a breather, he'll be more inclined to say yes and commit for a longer period. We often forget that these productions are massive and take a lot of time and energy out of actors and crew members. So, it's only natural that most of them would be reluctant to commit to doing something so strenuous in the long term if they're exhausted and frustrated. As Zack Snyder said when he announced his departure from Justice League, these are only movies at the end of the day. There are far more important things in life to consider and cherish. When Affleck feels ready (or if he ever does want) to return, then open the door for him to come back. Until then, give the man a break and let him rest. Tell us, do you think Ben Affleck will be replaced as Batman in the DCEU? If so, how do you think it'll be done? Let us know in the comments section.