Ben Affleck says the Justice League reshoots were the low point of his career, and he blames more than his personal circumstances. In a conversation with Josh Horowitz on Happy Sad Confused, the actor criticised Warner Bros.’ relationship with director Zack Snyder and described the production as an example of how not to make a superhero film.
IGN’s report on the interview quotes Affleck describing a combination of personal difficulties, tragedy, and conflict between the studio and filmmaker. His account also explains why his enthusiasm for directing a standalone Batman film faded after Justice League.
Affleck criticises the studio’s handling of Snyder’s exit
Affleck, who played Bruce Wayne and Batman in the film, said the experience was “so, so negative for lots of different reasons”. He acknowledged that some of those reasons involved his personal life, but also pointed to the working relationship between Warner Bros. and Snyder.
“You’re really making a mistake,” Affleck said of a studio being at odds with its filmmaker. “That was what really doomed that.”
Snyder left the production after his daughter’s death. Warner Bros. brought in The Avengers director Joss Whedon to oversee reshoots, which changed the film’s tone and story before its theatrical release. Affleck’s criticism goes beyond those creative changes: he believes the studio used the tragedy as an excuse to take control of the project.
That is Affleck’s allegation about the studio’s conduct, rather than an independently established account of its motives. His remarks are separate from Snyder’s earlier comments about a former Warner Bros. executive expressing regret over the handling of his DC films.
Affleck also referred to accounts involving co-stars Ray Fisher and Gal Gadot. He explicitly said much of what he knew about other people’s experiences was second-hand. Those distinctions are important: he was describing his own difficult production experience alongside things he had heard about colleagues, not claiming he personally witnessed every incident.
“It was just like ‘Wow, this is about as gross as it gets,’” Affleck said.
Why his Batman film never happened
The interview began with a question about Affleck’s abandoned standalone Batman film. He said he had been excited about the project, which would have featured Joe Manganiello as Deathstroke, before the Justice League experience turned him off directing within that version of the DC universe.
Manganiello has separately discussed what the Deathstroke offer meant to him. Affleck’s comments now add his perspective on why the proposed film lost its actor-director, rather than announcing any revival of it.
Affleck eventually stepped away from directing the Batman project, with Matt Reeves and Robert Pattinson taking over the subsequent film. His departure did not immediately end every appearance as the character: he later returned for The Flash and additional scenes in Zack Snyder’s Justice League.
Does this interview announce a new Justice League film?
No. The discussion looks back at the troubled production and Affleck’s decisions afterwards. It does not confirm another team-up film or a continuation of Snyder’s story.
Where can you hear Affleck’s full conversation?
The Ben Affleck episode is listed on the Happy Sad Confused podcast feed. Its description covers his directing career, Animals, and other roles alongside the DC discussion.
