While fans of the Dark Knight have certainly had a lot to endure this past week by being pulled in opposite directions when it comes to who to believe regarding Ben Affleck’s involvement in The Batman, all we can really do as moviegoers is sit back and hope for the best film possible – and ponder what may lie beyond.
Now, I’m not one to rule out Affleck hanging around for at least one solo flick in order to truly leave his stamp on the enduring icon, but the fact of the matter is that he’s not getting any younger. Plus, we have to take into account that Reeves is said to be mapping out a trilogy, so, if you figure the two subsequent installments will arrive two or three years apart from each other, that’s quite the commitment for an aging actor to make. Still, it’s not impossible or unwelcome, as Affleck is one awesome Caped Crusader.
Though there is still some uncertainty surrounding his involvement in the franchise, according to Fortress of Solitude, there’s absolutely nothing to worry about, as a source close to Warner Bros. is claiming that the actor is definitely on board for all three films in the trilogy. Not only that, but there’s a bit of a surprise to follow:
“Yeah, he [Affleck] is staying on as the Batman. There were contract issues, but everything’s sorted now. He’ll do Reeves’ trilogy which sets up Batman Beyond, which will be the next phase of the DC film universe.”
By now, you know to take such statements with a grain of salt, but if this does prove true, it’s hugely exciting. To date, only Bruce Wayne has taken up cape and cowl in the film franchise, and it’s long overdue for another hero to be afforded the opportunity.
For those unfamiliar with Batman Beyond, Terry McGinnis was the central character of the fondly-remembered animated series, which ran from 1999-2001. Set in a cyberpunk future version of Gotham, Terry is trained up as the second Batman by an elderly Bruce. Decked out with a flying Batmobile and a hi-tech suit with its own artificial intelligence, the former teen tearaway makes up for his past sins by continuing the legacy of the Dark Knight. McGinnis became such a hit with the fans, in fact, that he was quickly introduced into the comic universe and has gone on to star in a steady stream of solo titles ever since.
It’s no secret that WB’s kicked around the idea of bringing the character to the big screen for years, with it almost happening in the time separating Batman & Robin and Batman Begins. But as was the case with projects like Batman Unchained and Batman: Year One, it simply never came to fruition.
Logically, one has to wonder how The Batman and its possible sequels will even give way to such a thing since Beyond takes place fifty years from whenever the current time is, but perhaps they could work in cameos made by Terry’s parents to be paid off in the futuristic thriller. Time will tell, but color us intrigued.