The Flash will bring together two different versions of Batman, among those Ben Affleck’s, and this is the perfect chance to explore the most interesting thing about his version of the Caped Crusader. Batman is one of the most beloved superheroes in history, and as such, he has been brought to other media for years, most notably to film. Unfortunately, Batman’s history on the big screen has various ups and downs, and his time in the DC Extended Universe wasn’t exactly one of the Dark Knight’s peak moments.
Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy and Christian Bale’s performance as Bruce Wayne/Batman set the bar high for the following adaptation of the famous vigilante, and the DCEU found its Batman in Ben Affleck, who made his debut in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. This version of Batman was older and more experienced, and thus also one that was haunted by his past, mostly the death of his protégé Dick Grayson. Affleck’s Batman returned in a cameo appearance in David Ayer’s Suicide Squad before teaming up with Superman (Henry Cavill), Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), Cyborg (Ray Fisher), Aquaman (Jason Momoa), and The Flash (Ezra Miller) in Justice League (and Zack Snyder's Justice League later on).
Unfortunately, Affleck’s Batman failed to connect with the audience and he will be replaced in the DC multiverse with Robert Pattinson in The Batman, though this movie isn’t part of the DCEU. However, Justice League won’t be the last time fans will see Affleck’s Batman, as he will have one final appearance in Andrés Muschietti’s The Flash, and because it’s based on the Flashpoint storyline, it will allow Miller’s Barry Allen to come across with two versions of the Caped Crusader, the other being Michael Keaton’s from Tim Burton’s Batman and Batman Returns. While Affleck’s Batman’s role in The Flash hasn’t been revealed, this is the best chance to explore the most interesting thing about this version: a hero who has no more fight to fight.
When the audience met the DCEU’s Batman in Batman v Superman, the Dark Knight had already been fighting crime for 20 years, and it was Superman’s conflict with Zod in Man of Steel that made Bruce see Superman as a threat after witnessing all the destruction during the battle. Batman didn’t have a fight to fight anymore and was suddenly called back as a result of the Black Zero event, and that’s what makes this version so interesting: a Batman who has been fighting crime in Gotham for two decades and suddenly has to return to the battlefield after the death of Grayson and other traumatic events that surely left a permanent mark in him. The Flash can explore this and go deeper into how going back into action all of sudden affects a hero that has seen a lot of destruction and gone through many losses.
The Flash is the final chance the DCEU has to properly explore Ben Affleck’s Batman as his future beyond this movie is a mystery. Of course, as the main character is Barry Allen, fans shouldn’t expect “Batfleck” to take the lead, but The Flash can definitely show that darker and more complex side of this short-lived version of Batman.
