A VFX artist who specializes in deepfake technology has reimagined The Batman, replacing Robert Pattinson's Bruce Wayne with Ben Affleck's from the DC Extended Universe.
Artist and video editor/producer stryder HD posted a minute and a half clip of scenes from the Matt Reeves reboot of the Caped Crusader. It starts with the hospital scene where a bedridden Alfred (Andy Serkis) is confronted by Bruce about the controversies surrounding Thomas Wayne. Affleck's face is deepfaked onto Pattinson's head while preserving Pattinson's tousled hair and quiet voice. The side-by-side clips of the two actors show how photorealistic the Affleck deepfake looks once it's sold in with the proper lighting and facial angles. The clip then cuts to the Gotham City mayor's funeral scene where Bruce meets Carmine Falcone (John Turturro). Again, Affleck's face is sold onto Pattinson seamlessly.
As stryder HD states in the comments section of the clip, their intent with this project was to show "what it might look like if Ben Affleck did in fact return as Bruce Wayne in the newest Batman film released in 2022 instead of Robert Pattinson, via 'Deep Fake' technology." When Affleck was cast as Batman in 2013, the plan was to have him appear in multiple DCEU projects. One such project was a stand-alone Batman film that Affleck was set to star, direct and co-write with Geoff Johns. The script involved Arkham Asylum and it featured Joe Manganiello's Slade Wilson/Deathstroke as the primary villain. But the polarized reception to Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and the production troubles on Justice League led Affleck to drop out of the director's chair.
In 2017, Matt Reeves was hired by Warner Bros. to direct The Batman with Affleck still attached to star. However, Reeves rejected Affleck's script and opted to start from scratch by making his Batman film separate from the DCEU. His decision to focus on the Dark Knight's second year running the streets of Gotham City and focusing on his detective skills meant that Affleck had to step away altogether. Pattinson was cast in the title role in May 2019.
Matt Reeves' The Batman went on to gross over $769 million worldwide and earned glowing reviews for its bleak take on the Dark Knight. Affleck, however, will return to the role next year in The Flash, appearing alongside the Michael Keaton incarnation from 1989's Batman. Flash star Ezra Miller previously stated Affleck may be far from done with the DCEU after this film.
The Batman is currently streaming on HBO Max. Affleck's Batman will be back on the big screen when The Flash zooms into theaters on June 23, 2023.
Source: YouTube