Fans are divided by Ben Affleck's portrayal of Batman in the DC Extended Universe as a gruff misanthrope easily pushed toward violence. However, we came this close to a crazier depiction of the Dark Knight, in director George Miller's abandoned Justice League Mortal.

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Shelved by Warner Bros. on the eve of production in January 2008, the film would have starred Armie Hammer as Batman, D.J. Cotrona as Superman, Megan Gale as Wonder Woman, Adam Brody as The Flash, Santiago Cabrera as Aquaman and Common as Green Lantern.

Reflecting on the project during a recent episode of Happy Sad Confused, Hammer offered some insight into the film's take on Bruce Wayne, saying, "It was darker."

"It's funny," he continued, "it was pre-Christian Bale, but the Christian Bale Batman had a lot more in common with it than any of the previous ones, whether it be the George Clooney, the Michael Keaton, all those, which were almost campy. This was one about a guy who is severely, psychologically, almost deranged. It was dark and it was really intense and this guy had major trust issues, the whole thing. It was a great concept and a really cool idea."

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Now, of course, we have a different take on the Justice League, starring Ben Affleck as Batman, Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, Henry Cavill as Superman, Amy Adams as Lois Lane, Jason Momoa as Aquaman, Ezra Miller as The Flash, Ray Fisher as Cyborg, Jeremy Irons as Alfred Pennyworth, Diane Lane as Martha Kent, Willem Dafoe as Nuidis Vulko, Ciarán Hinds as Steppenwolf, Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor and J.K. Simmons as Commissioner Gordon.

(via CinemaBlend)