Ben Affleck's Batman is in a dark place in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, but Zack Snyder's reshoots for Zack Snyder's Justice League left Ben Affleck's Batman on a good note. With the roots of his heroism tracing back to the murder of his parents by a thug in a dark alley, it makes sense that Bruce Wayne would invent an alter ego like Batman. Criminals may have been able to use the cover of darkness to stalk and prey on innocents before, but when Batman is around, he rules the night.
The Dark Knight is Batman's most famous nickname for a reason, and given his traumatic past and drive to not let many people into his dangerous secret life, it also makes sense that Batman is a person most suited to being alone, even if that deprives him of some of life's joys. Such are the things a man like Bruce gives up to become Gotham City's shadowy protector, and accordingly, The Caped Crusader is rarely all that personally happy.
Zack Snyder's DC films have become famous for their dark tone and aesthetic, with many fans arguing he goes too far in that direction. Snyder's chosen Batman, Affleck, is certainly the darkest incarnation of the character in a movie so far. But with Warner Bros. saying Snyder's DC tenure is over, he thankfully used the Snyder Cut reshoots to end their time together with an uplifting final scene.
Snyder Cut Reshoots Gave Ben Affleck's Batman A Happy Ending, Kind Of
Notably, what proceeds Batman's ending in the Justice League Snyder Cut is anything but hopeful. Bruce experiences another dream/vision of the Knightmare future timeline, in which Darkseid has taken over Earth, and used the Anti-Life Equation to turn Superman evil. He wakes up, but then things shift. Outside Bruce's home is a shimmering lake, with early morning sunlight beaming down. Fresh off the Justice League's victory over Steppenwolf, and prevention of the Mother Boxes' unification, Bruce looks healthy and hopeful. His conversation with Martian Manhunter also helps bring Batfleck's arc full circle.
Bruce had openly wondered in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice about the Wayne legacy, and even suggests killing Superman might be the only thing he ever does that matters. He's come a long way from that moment, and Manhunter even tells Bruce that his parents would be proud of all the good he's done, which clearly surprises Bruce on an emotional level. Bruce has also just met a flying alien that for all he knows has god-like powers, and unlike in Batman v Superman, Bruce readily accepts Manhunter's help, having now grown past the idea that powerful otherworldly beings can't be trusted, thanks to his experiences fighting beside Superman.
This sequence featuring Batman and Martian Manhunter was not in the original plans at all for Zack Snyder's Justice League, and was written entirely for the Snyder Cut reshoots to replace a cut cameo by John Stewart's Green Lantern. While Batfleck is set to appear in 2022's The Flash, which is rumored to write him out of the DCEU going forward, this could be the final journey for Snyder and Batman, and thankfully, it ended perfectly.
