Holy angry nerd backlash Batman
The news of Ben Affleck s casting as the Caped Crusader in the director Zack Snyder s Man of Steel sequel hit with the force of a Kapow and the reaction ranged from excitement to outrage from fans who haven t gotten over 2003 s Daredevil.
Within the first 12 hours of the announcements 30 different petitions were launched on Change.org demanding Warner Bros. dump Affleck.
I wish I could say I was surprised by the vitriol of the reaction history has shown that the Internet is a largely a negative place says Newsarama.com site editor Lucas Siegel who wrote an op ed on the genre news site praising the casting.
There's no one in the world that is universally loved enough to be Batman especially when you're putting them up against so many levels of expectations.
You have the shadow of Christian Bale you have the rough start to Affleck s career you have the fact that this is a character with 75 years of expectations.
One of the chief recurring complaints judging by the online grumbling stems from Affleck s less than heroic turn in the movie adaptation of Marvel s Daredevil.
Then there are the critics who decry the star for opting to do tights and a cape after having just won an Academy Award for Argo. It wasn t that long ago that he had to repair his career to erase the stink of critically derided flops like Surviving Christmas and Gigli.
Handout Affleck will have a tough time overcoming memories of his infamous turn as Daredevil a super hero movie that was considered not all that super.PHOTOS RECAST MOVIE TV ROLES
Remember long before the 'net was up and running fans made their hostality when Michael Keaton was cast in Tim Burton's Batman until they saw him and then suddenly they shut up Leonard Maltin film critic for Entertainment Tonight and a movie historian told the News.
Affleck also has tough boots to fill after Christian Bale s much lauded interpretation of the character in director Christopher Nolan s Dark Knight trilogy.
I have mixed emotions about it honestly because Mr. Affleck used to come here to research Daredevil and a few other super hero roles that he was up for so at least he's a comic fan says Jeff Ayers manager at Forbidden Planet a comic book store near Manhattan s Union Square.
But it's also going to be hard to look past seeing Ben Affleck in a cape and cowl.
Supporters however point out that Affleck brings a pedigree as both a successful director and a more mature actor that has grown including a lauded turn as Superman himself George Reeves in 2006's Hollywoodland since he ran around in the burgundy leather Daredevil costume a decade ago.
Affleck s Hollywood peers are also being supportive for the most part.
ThatKevinSmith via Twitter Kevin Smith tweets his reaction to news of his buddy s casting.
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I want to congratulate Ben affleck on winning the part of batman it was some battle but you won fair and square .
Chris Rock ( chrisrock) August 23 2013
Affleck is about to pull a Keaton on alla y'all. word iCannotBelieveIJustSaidAllaYall
Damon Lindelof ( DamonLindelof) August 23 2013
Evan Agostini/Evan Agostini/Invision/AP Ben Affleck is also getting slammed by some non geeks for going from directing the Oscar winning Argo to starring in a super hero movie.
Really looking forward to seeing Affleck bring the depth and gravitas to Batman that he brought to Daredevil and Gigli.
Wil Wheaton ( wilw) August 23 2013
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Affleck is going to kill this. Mark my words. As a huge fan of Bale I completely think this is a genius new way to take it.
Josh Gad ( joshgad) August 23 2013
You read for a part you feel good about it you feel confident then they cast Ben Affleck.
Richard Dreyfuss ( RichardDreyfuss) August 23 2013 Ron Phillips/AP And the 41 year old actor also has a tough act to follow taking over the batmantle from Dark Knight trilogy star Christian Bale.
WOW BenAffleck is gonna play Batman. I hope he fights the Joke ah wickedpissah
Patton Oswalt ( pattonoswalt) August 23 2013RELATED BEN AFFLECK IS THE NEW DARK KNIGHT
Spend 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 ( timcarvell) August 23 2013
But the most important critics are the filmmakers behind the Man of Steel franchise. And to them Affleck is the perfect chin to put in the cowl as an older wiser Batman that s been secretly battling crime for years and only surfaces in reaction to the presence of Henry Cavill's Superman.
Ben provides an interesting counter balance to Henry's Superman Snyder said in a statement announcing the casting.
He has the acting chops to create a layered portrayal of a man who is older and wiser than Clark Kent and bears the scars of a seasoned crime fighter but retain the charm that the world sees in billionaire Bruce Wayne.
I can't wait to work with him.
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