Ben Affleck as Batman: Internet explodes with 'Batfleck' backlash

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'Batfleck' backlash: Reaction to casting Ben Affleck as Batman

Angela Mulholland CTVNews.ca
Published Friday, August 23, 2013 2:27PM EDT Last Updated Friday, August 23, 2013 2:57PM EDT

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'Batfleck' backlash: Reaction to casting Ben Affleck as BatmanZack Snyder, the director of an upcoming, yet-to-be-named, Superman- Batman film might believe that Ben Affleck 鈥渉as the acting chops to create a layered portrayal鈥� of beloved superhero Batman. But the Internet is having none of it.Storified by · Fri, Aug 23 2013 11:40:00Zack Snyder, the director of an upcoming, yet-to-be-named, Superman- Batman film might believe that Ben Affleck 鈥渉as the acting chops to create a layered portrayal鈥� of beloved superhero Batman. But the Internet is having none of it.

Warner Bros. that Affleck would befollowing in the dark-booted footsteps of Adam West, Val Kilmer and Christian Bale in playing the caped crusader. But the casting decision has been met with a backlash of superheroic proportions.CtvnewsMany fans bemoaned that Affleck was a too-bland, 鈥渧anilla鈥漜hoice, especially after Bale's celebrated darker and edgier incarnations of the so-called DarkKnight.In the new Ben Affleck version, the Batmobile is just a beige PriusEliza BayneIf you liked Man of Steel, Ben Affleck is totally the Batman you deserve.Benari

Others cited Affleck鈥檚attempt, a decade ago, at portraying superhero Daredevil, the notorious debacle of theepic box office bomb 鈥淕igli,鈥� or even Affleck鈥檚 recent BestPicture Oscar win for Argo last year 鈥� achoice with which not everyone agreed.

Really looking forward to seeing Affleck bring the depth and gravitas to Batman that he brought to Daredevil and Gigli.Wil Wheaton"Wow, Ben Affleck sure was great in Daredevil. I hope he gets to play ANOTHER superhero!!" - Things no one has ever said.Jared PadaleckiSpend ten years working your way back into everyone's good graces. Win an Oscar. Then you get cast as Batman, and BAM! You're Gigli again.Tim Carvell

Stillothers imagined the disaster that might ensue if Affleck brings his trademarkBoston accent to the role.

WOW, @BenAffleck is gonna play Batman. I hope he fights the Joke-ah! #wickedpissahPatton OswaltAffleck gonna be like "It's the Jokah! Or the Riddlah! Rahbin! Call Commissionah Gahden!"D'Brickashaw

For some die-hard Batman fans, it鈥檚 all too much. An onlinepetition was started Thursday night on Change.org, which at last count, had more than 7,000 signatures.

Warner Brothers: Remove Ben Affleck as Batman/Bruce Wayne in the Superman/Batman movie.His acting skill is not even close to being believable as Bruce Wayne and he won't do the role justice. He's not built, nor is he intimid...

#BetterBatmanThanAffleck and #Batfleck trended on Twitter most of the day Friday, offering serious andnot-so-serious suggestions for casting alternatives.

#BetterBatmanThanBenAffleck http://twitter.com/The01Wingman/status/370738541208170496/photo/1Wing Man

Still, there were some on Twitter who advised fans to give Affleck a chance,noting that few held out much hope when when the then -relatively unknown Bale was cast, or when heartthrob Heath Ledger was pegged to become theJoker in 2007. (Ledger, of course, went on to win an Oscar for thatsupporting role, posthumously.)

The likelihood that Warner Bros. will change its collectivemind now seems remote -- if for no other reason than the massive interest the filmis already garnering on social media is proving true the old Hollywood adage:鈥淭here鈥檚 no such thing as bad publicity.鈥�