Ever since the announcement that Argo star and director Ben Affleck had signed on to a multi-film deal as the new Batman to first appear in the tentatively titled Batman vs. Superman (or, conversely, Superman vs. Batman), people have been jokingly asking whether Affleck's friend and frequent screen partner Matt Damon would join him as Batman's faithful sidekick, Robin the Boy Wonder.

Obviously "Boy Wonder" would be a little bit of a stretch for Damon, who turns 43 this fall, but the idea wasn't entirely impossible. Since Superman vs. Batman will be an adaptation, director Zack Snyder and screenwriter David S. Goyer could have taken some liberties with the source material and incorporated Robin into the movie as a slightly more mature partner in crime-fighting for Batfleck.

While Robin might still make an appearance in Batman vs. Superman, we must sadly report that he won't be played by Matt Damon. Speaking to the Times of India, the actor laughed off the idea, explaining that he just can't imagine a middle-aged Robin:

"I am a little older than Ben. I never saw Robin as older than Batman. Somebody sent me a picture actually [see the photoshopped picture above]. It was really funny. But it's safe to say I won't be Robin."

You may or may not know this, but not everyone on the internet has been pleased by the Batfleck casting. As well as the standard Change.org petition demanding that he be removed, a group of Batman fans have even pleaded with the White House to make it illegal for Ben Affleck to play any more comic book characters. The latter petition was recently removed from the site, which could either be considered a slap in the face of democracy or a sensible response to  a really silly request.

Matt Damon in 'Elysium'

Screen Rant already covered some of the reasons why this casting choice could be a good thing in both Andrew Dyce's editorial and the latest SR Underground podcast, but Damon didn't hesitate to poke this particular controversy with a stick:

"I think it will be great. It will be terrific. I know there are a lot of people grousing on the Internet. I just think it's kind of funny. You know, he's not playing King Lear. It's Batman! Certainly within his skill set. If anybody saw 'Argo' or 'The Town,' and all the work he's been doing lately, it's way more nuanced and interesting and way more difficult than Batman! Batman just sits there with his cowl over his head and whispers in a kinda gruff voice at people. Bruce Wayne is the more challenging part of the role, and Ben will be great at that."

Someone had better equip Damon with a flame shield for badmouthing the Bat, though admittedly the character does do quite a bit of sitting around with a cowl on his head and whispering in a gruff voice. With that in mind, Affleck does seem to be more naturally suited to the other half of Batman's personality: the outwardly affable and carefree playboy with a troubled past and a dark side that he keeps hidden.

Since Batman vs. Superman is still so far off, we can have some fun with the idea that Damon only said he won't be playing Robin, and not that he won't appear in the film at all. Though the two actors haven't appeared in a movie together since 2004's Jersey Girl, they share great screen chemistry and also jointly won an Academy Award in 1997 for their Good Will Hunting script. Perhaps Damon will make an appearance in Batman vs. Superman, if only a cameo.

Damon might be out of the running, but would you be interested in seeing Robin team up with Batman against Henry Cavill's Superman? Tell us in the comments which other characters from the DC universe you're hoping to see in the Man of Steel sequel.

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Batman vs. Superman will be released on July 15, 2015.

Source: Times of India