Ben Affleck Reflects on His Journey as Batman and Personal Struggles

Actor Discusses Creative Aspirations, On-Set Challenges, and Path to Sobriety

Ben Affleck has candidly discussed his tenure as Batman, revealing both the creative ambitions and personal challenges he faced during the production of films like Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), Suicide Squad (2016), and Justice League (2017). In a recent interview, Affleck expressed appreciation for the creative direction of portraying an older, broken Bruce Wayne, stating, “I loved Batman v Superman. And I liked my brief stints on The Flash that I did and when I got to work with Viola Davis on Suicide Squad for a day or two.”

However, Affleck also acknowledged the difficulties encountered during these projects, particularly during Justice League. He described the experience as “a really excruciating experience,” attributing it to a misalignment of agendas and his own personal struggles at the time. He admitted, “I wasn’t bringing anything particularly wonderful to that equation… I had my own failings, significant failings, in that process and at that time.”

Affleck’s personal challenges included a growing dependence on alcohol, which intensified as his marriage was deteriorating. He has been open about how his drinking became a coping mechanism during this tumultuous period, acknowledging that it ultimately exacerbated his problems. ​

These realizations led Affleck to step away from reprising his role in The Batman (2022). He recounted, “I showed somebody The Batman script. They said, ‘I think the script is good. I also think you’ll drink yourself to death if you go through what you just went through again.'” ​

Despite these challenges, Affleck found that his personal experiences informed his work on The Way Back (2020), a film in which he portrayed a character grappling with alcoholism. He noted that while he didn’t intend to become a spokesperson for recovering alcoholics, he was willing to engage in conversations about his journey, stating, “I didn’t really mind that. I maybe underestimated the degree to which… I didn’t have any ambitions to be the national spokesman for recovering alcoholics.” ​

Affleck’s reflections underscore the complex interplay between personal experiences and professional endeavors, highlighting the challenges and growth that can emerge from such intersections.