Producer Barbara Muschietti revealed why Ben Affleck agreed to reprise the role of Batman for one last time in the upcoming movie The Flash.
"There have been some all sorts of stories and things he said himself about having a very hard time playing Batman, and it had been difficult for him," Muschietti explained to Vanity Fair. "I think it was more about a difficult time in his life. When we approached him, he's now in a very different time in his life. He was very open to it, which was a bit of a surprise to us. It was a question mark."
"We are all human and go through great times in our lives and terrible times in our lives," she continued. "Right now he's in a place where he can actually enjoy being Batman." As for what kind of part Affleck's Batman will play in The Flash, Muschietti remarked, "It's a pivotal role, but at the same time it's a fun part." However, "he doesn't have to carry the entire movie."
Affleck won't be the only Batman appearing in The Flash. Michael Keaton's Caped Crusader will also play a "substantial" role in the movie, according to Flash director Andy Muschietti. Still, Andy noted that Affleck's Batman is still vital to the story. "[Affleck] is the baseline. He's part of that unaltered state before we jump into Barry's adventure," he explained, referring to Barry and Bruce's past interactions in Justice League. "There's a familiarity there."
Directed by Andy Muschietti with a script by Christina Hodson, The Flash stars Ezra Miller as Barry Allen. It is scheduled to arrive in theaters on June 3, 2022.