- Title: FILE: Ben Affleck cast as Batman in new Superman movie
- Date: 23rd August 2013
- Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (JULY 18 2012) (REUTERS-ACCESS ALL) FANS DRESSED AS BATMAN AND BANE AT UK PREMIERE OF 'THE DARK KNIGHT RISES' BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (OCTOBER 04, 2012) (REUTERS-ACCESS ALL) VARIOUS BEN AFFLECK AT THE PREMIERE OF 'ARGO' LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (APRIL 09, 2013) (REUTERS-ACCESS ALL) VARIOUS BEN AFFLECK AT THE PREMIERE OF 'TO THE WONDER' NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (JULY 16, 2012) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF CHRISTIAN BALE AT PREMIERE OF 'THE DARK KNIGHT RISES' NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (JUNE 10, 2013) (REUTERS) ***CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF SUPERMAN ACTOR, HENRY CAVILL POSING FOR PICTURES ON RED CARPET (4 SHOTS) LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (MARCH 30, 2011) (REUTERS-ACCESS ALL) VARIOUS DIRECTOR ZACK SNYDER AT UK PREMIERE OF 'SUCKER PUNCH'
- Embargoed: 7th September 2013 13:00
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- Location: Usa, United States Minor Outlying Islands, United Kingdom
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- Country: Usa United States Minor Outlying Islands United Kingdom
- Topics: Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVA8DKJL6CD0G0WVU07UHENHPL1X
- Story Text: Ben Affleck to play Batman in 'Man of Steel' sequel
Ben Affleck will play Batman in an upcoming Superman sequel that will see the two caped crusaders face off against each other, film studio Warner Bros Pictures said on Thursday.
Affleck, 41, will take on the role of reclusive billionaire Bruce Wayne, Batman's alter-ego, in director Zack Snyder's 2015 sequel to this year's Superman reboot "Man of Steel," starring 30-year-old British actor Henry Cavill.
"We knew we needed an extraordinary actor to take on one of DC Comics' most enduringly popular super heroes, and Ben Affleck certainly fits that bill, and then some. His outstanding career is a testament to his talent and we know he and Zack will bring new dimension to the duality of this character," Greg Silverman, president of creative development at Warner Bros Pictures said.
The announcement that two iconic comic book heroes will face off against each other was made by Snyder earlier this year at San Diego's annual Comic-Con, a convention celebrating comic-book and pop culture.
"It's beyond mythological to have Superman and our new Batman facing off, since they are the greatest super heroes in the world," Snyder said.
The director's "Man of Steel" has been a successful reboot of the Superman franchise this year, making $650 million at the global box office. The yet-to-be titled sequel, slated for release on July 17, 2015, will reunite "Man of Steel" stars Cavill, Amy Adams, Laurence Fishburne and Diane Lane.
Affleck joins a list of actors who have donned Batman's black mask and cape, including Michael Keaton, George Clooney and most recently Christian Bale in Christopher Nolan's "Dark Knight" trilogy. Both Batman and Superman are part of the DC Comics universe, which is part of the Warner Bros Entertainment division, a subsidiary of Time Warner Inc TWX.N.
Nolan's "Dark Knight" films, which explored a darker and more complex portrayal of Batman, made more than $2 billion at the worldwide box office between 2005 and 2012, according to BoxOfficeMojo.com.
Affleck, who directed and starred in this year's Best Picture Oscar winner "Argo," will also be in upcoming gambling drama "Runner Runner," opposite Justin Timberlake. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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