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WB Approaches Ben Affleck to Direct 'Justice League' Movie

By: Derrick Deane on August 8, 2012 at 2:16PM Comments (32)

A day removed from Disney's announcement that Joss Whedon was returning to helm the sequel to The Avengers, Variety reports that Warner Bros. has approached Ben Affleck to see if he'd be willing to direct a Justice League feature.

Affleck directed WB's 2010 Oscar nominee The Town and has achieved critical success both in front of and behind the camera. Affleck has made it clear though that he's only interested in directing films in which he also stars, meaning if he were to helm a Justice League film, he'd be portraying one of the characters.

Variety speculates that Justice League wouldn't arrive in theaters until at least 2015, as the DC Comics movie line and WB gauge the success of next year's Superman reboot, Man of Steel.

Christopher Nolan has also previously said that he will "have nothing to do" with a Justice League movie, though he's credited as a producer on Man of Steel.

For now though, what are your thoughts on Affleck helming a Justice League movie? Do you think it's a good fit or should WB consider someone else?

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Comments (32)Leave a Comment

  • Dec 1st 2012 7:38PM

    1267292452  said...

    I think Ben is a fan of comic books and that will help but, JLA only has one shot....to get it right... If they want to out-do Avengers. The safe bet is Christopher Nolan or Matthew Vaughn.

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  • Aug 19th 2012 4:53PM

    daniel108  said...

    If they're thinking about using Superman from "Man of Steel" and Batman from "Dark Knight" then Ben Affleck should stay away. If they're thinking about using rebooted characters then I suppose he can direct it but I doubt it will measure up to Joss Whedon's "Avengers." Also, Ben Affleck's portrayal of Daredevil was off-putting, I hope he steps it up with Justice League if he decides he's up for the challenge.

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  • Aug 19th 2012 4:58PM

    daniel108  said...

    Edit: I would rather see Christopher Nolan direct for DC as well. He completely redeemed Batman after Joel Schumacher 's vapid rendition.

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  • Aug 19th 2012 11:18AM

    1488443695  said...

    If he has to star in it, give him the role of Maxwell Lord

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  • Aug 12th 2012 8:14PM

    100000209162333  said...

    Whatever Ben does, he does well. This attitude that people have about him baffles me. The man has talent and I really wish people would stop hating on him for the whole JLo debacle. I doubt he will show a lot of interest in this because he prefers to pick his own material to work from but if he did Im sure it would be worth watching.

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  • Aug 12th 2012 5:48PM

    garyreid71  said...

    As long as he don't do anything "Brett Ratner" or "Joe Schumacher" -ish with these guys, I'm down. Let him be Plastic/Elongated Man or something (Aquaman may be a stretch. Sorry. But anyone of those B -/ D-level characters to make him happy and that'll make us happy. Still mad at him for ruining Daredevil, but in Jen Garner, make her Zatanna and all is forgiven, aight?

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  • Aug 11th 2012 6:17AM

    1368221452  said...

    Directing Maybe acting please no . wish nolan would do it.

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  • Aug 11th 2012 12:54AM

    houziwang68  said...

    Hmmm...Daredevil is a Marvel character. He needs to play a DC character before he tries to direct a DC movie. He would probably do well. Let him have a shot.

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  • Aug 10th 2012 9:41PM

    Scrappy1994  said...

    My dog is a better actor than Affleck. He would probably be a better director too.

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  • Aug 10th 2012 9:29PM

    100000685544784  said...

    Afflack's lack of acting talent exhibited in Daredevil sank that franchise before it every got off the ground. In fact, it was his lack of acting chops that was a running joke betweeen him and the director. Afflack should stick to the only thing he's apparently any good at...Making babies with Jennifer Gardner, and chasing after Matt Damon's coattails.

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  • Aug 10th 2012 2:21PM

    1084380257  said...

    They should just get Joss Whedon to direct it! He is so good at it, he would KILL at making a justice league movie! :)

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  • Aug 10th 2012 12:13PM

    Fatherdeth  said...

    A lot of people on here are saying you need bib budget and heavy CGI experience to undertake a comic boom movie like this. Christopher Nolan's biggest films before the Batman trilogy were Memento and Insomnia. Granted he did a lot of work with practical effects but I don't think we can say he's not up for it just because he lacks the experience. Gotta cut his teeth sometime.

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  • Aug 10th 2012 11:01AM

    100000208369641  said...

    Affleck? No thanks.

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  • Aug 10th 2012 9:52AM

    658642087  said...

    The opening graphics for daredevil was the best part of that movie. Ben Affleck is hit or miss as an actor. I could stand not seeing him in both Marvel and DC universes. Changing who plays who from film to film kinda sucks. Who gives a crap what Chrostopher Nolan wants or doesn't want. Out of the 3 Batmans he did, I can only stand the third one but that also kinda reminded me of the Avengers and Live Free or Die Hard...I think the whole live action comic book movies is a bit of a letdown. The media temperatures for film and for comic books are not even close.

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  • Aug 10th 2012 8:31AM

    100000975849505  said...

    It depends on how much of a "fanboy" Affleck is. Jon Favreau and Joss Whedon are both BIG time fans of the comics they directed. Frankly if he IS a huge fan and is willing to throw his soul into this undertaking he should either stay out of the lens view or make his role a minimal one as Favreau did in Ironman. Make the movie the star not the other way around.

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  • Aug 10th 2012 8:24AM

    elph  said...

    He's proven himself as a director and I liked him in Daredevil. Wonder which superhero he'd wind up playing?

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  • Aug 10th 2012 8:13AM

    1495877930  said...

    Affleck can rock it! I'd DEFINITELY be there opening day! He's so talented he could even play the shark in a Jaws reboot... ;-)

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  • Aug 9th 2012 6:46AM

    100000528182868  said...

    At least we know who will be playing Batman in the reboots....

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  • Aug 9th 2012 3:35AM

    GHOSTFACE12  said...

    hmmmm...This is a scary one. I'm not saying he can't direct it but to direct a movie like this needs someone who is seriously into comic books. Someone who can bring in artistic and visual creativeness to it. (James Cameron, Zack Snyder) Its one thing to direct a movie but its another thing to DIRECT a superhero movie (of this capacity). Quite frankly, I don't see Benny Boy as the ideal choice to helm this movie. My opinion though.

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  • Aug 8th 2012 3:34PM

    fandad1960  said...

    If he does it I just want Affleck to surprise me with Justice League. He sure do has big shoes to fill

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  • Aug 8th 2012 2:52PM

    ZackRSAdama  said...

    I like The Town as much as the next guy, but does it in any way show that Ben Affleck is capable of creating a landmark superhero ensemble on par with The Avengers? Heck no. As others have said, too, if Affleck wants to direct and star in the film, that to me is a recipe for disaster. Personally, I'd try to get Nolan to re-consider.

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  • Aug 8th 2012 2:44PM

    100001560946963  said...

    nope i cant see him doing it i just cant....i do however see James Cameron directing it that would be great....just directing though...have someone else write the script James is great at directing but sucks when it comes to writing a script

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  • Aug 8th 2012 2:43PM

    1049250960  said...

    If Jon Favreau can do wonders with Iron Man, etc., BA can handle Justice League. He's friends with Kevin Smith, that guy will most likely be his consultant.

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  • Aug 8th 2012 2:38PM

    gepadres  said...

    Why not? It's a known fact that he is a comic fan. I think he could pull it off. Even if he doesn't star as a superhero, he star as something like a reporter or policeman or something like that. If he has to star in his own movie. Otherwise - I think he could pull it off as long as the studios don't try to cramp his style since he's well-versed with comics.

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  • Aug 8th 2012 2:32PM

    1844453224  said...

    Please no. Ben Affleck is a fine actor, but Affleck directing The Justice League......HELL NO! Please find someone else!! Please

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