Ben Affleck’s solo Batman film — the one that was once planned with him starring and directing — had all the ingredients to be one of the most compelling Batman movies ever made. Here’s why many fans believe it could have been amazing: ⸻ 1. A Seasoned, War-Weary Batman Affleck’s Batman wasn’t another origin story. He was older, experienced, and haunted. Like a mix of The Dark Knight Returns and Arkham Batman, he had already experienced major losses (like Robin, implied to have been killed by the Joker). A story following that version of Bruce Wayne would have offered emotional depth and moral complexity — not “How did he become Batman?” but “How much longer can he stay Batman?” ⸻ 2. Affleck Was a Proven Director for This Tone He wasn’t just starring; he was writing and directing. His films like Argo, The Town, and Gone Baby Gone showed he could do gritty crime drama and psychological intensity — perfect for a grounded Gotham crime thriller. Many expected something like Heat but with Batman. ⸻ 3. Deathstroke as the Villain — In a Psychological War Joe Manganiello confirmed that Deathstroke was set to be the main antagonist — but not as a simple assassin fight. The script reportedly had Deathstroke dismantling Bruce’s life piece by piece, destroying him mentally, financially, and physically. A revenge thriller where Batman is hunted instead of being the hunter — that’s fresh territory. ⸻ 4. Set in Arkham Asylum — a Batman Horror Movie There were strong rumors (supported by concept art) that part of the film took place in Arkham Asylum, with Batman trapped inside while villains like Joker and others tormented him. Imagine The Raid meets Batman: Arkham Asylum — claustrophobic, brutal, villain-packed. ⸻ 5. It Would’ve Fully Embraced Batman’s Detective Side Most live-action Batmans barely touch his “World’s Greatest Detective” aspect. Affleck’s version was supposed to explore his intelligence and strategy — more cerebral, less just brawling. ⸻ In Short: ✅ A hardened veteran Batman ✅ Directed by someone who gets grounded crime drama ✅ Deathstroke as a strategic, personal threat ✅ Psychological warfare + Arkham horror elements ✅ Detective Batman, not just action Batman ⸻ If it had been made, it might have been the definitive Batman film — not about the rise of Batman, but about the cost of being him. #MakeTheBatfleckMovie @netflix @artists_equity @AmazonMGMStudio