Ben Affleck Talks Batman v Superman with Premiere

Ben Affleck talks to the French magazine Premiere on his of Batman in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,  also talks about the idea of doing the Batman film, stating he’s open to it if the script is good. The original interview is written in French, the English translation might be very off, read at your own rest. 

You are asked again a player, you are a respected director. You really had nothing to gain to get started again in a superhero film.
After the success of Argo, I really felt I could do what I liked. But it took some convincing for me Batman. Zack Snyder showed me around his studio, where there were lots of drawings and paintings, while the visual world of the film. I was very surprised, it had nothing to do with what I imagined. He wanted to be as close as possible to the comic book by Frank Miller, The ​​Dark Knight. With Batman older, more brawler who comes to the end of his career. A slightly off-side guy whose playboy philanthropist is actually another mask with which he fills the void that inhabits it.Loved this vision. This is not a guy of 25 who spends his anger on the criminals of Gotham City. This is someone who takes stock of his life and wondered if it was worth it all. He lived another tragedy, the people he worked with were killed (note: during the fight between Superman and Zod at the end of Man of Steel) by something that terrifies him.

He feels overwhelmed.
Yes, because suddenly the world is meaningless: Batman faces superhuman, which had never happened to him. It’s very similar to what we saw at this time, at least since 2001. The world is much scarier than what we thought, anything can happen anytime. Banks can flow, buildings can explode … You feel less safe and Zack wanted to evoke that feeling.

And there’s something reassuring to go to superhero movies then we live every day with terrorism in mind.
That’s exactly right. If we could compare the numbers of entries for superhero movies and the number of incidents around the world, I am sure you would find a correlation. This kind of films we said that no matter the enemy, someone will land and take care.This is a very comforting thought that our problems can be solved. Batman v Superman speaks to a lack of understanding of the other and threats that come from outside. This is completely valid. The world is extremely confusing: who is on whose side? Why ?What do we have to do ? It’s a very confusing time.

Batman v Superman , it’s also pretty amazing meeting between Zack Snyder and Chris Terrio, a writer whom you know well since he wrote Argo.
Bosser with Zack and Chris is as good as associate chocolate peanut butter. Zack is an incredibly visual director. One thing that sometimes makes no sense when it is turned on the monitor is sublime. It inspired me every day. And Chris is a pragmatic type who writes scripts for political thrillers. Their meeting was fruitful, they managed to create the perfect hybrid. This script is great, there was not a line to change in the dialogues. And I can tell you this is rare.

How have films based on comics since your last experience with Daredevil?
I think that was mainly realized they could be good!(laughs) Before it was a bit cynical: putting costumes on guys, use of licenses, and there will be public. And then they realized they could make crossovers and if they coped well, there was a lot more money to boot.At the time, nobody was trying to make a good movie.The DC Comics universe has a nice card to play today.There is room for DC is darker and that Marvel is lighter and a bit more fun. This is the DNA of these two companies long time, even before the films.

What is the biggest challenge when preparing to play Batman?
Honestly, this is the physical side. Because other players have given everything before the public’s expectations about what should look like a superhero are virtually impossible to achieve. I had to make muscu for a year for this film, it was a crazy job. It is almost 70% of taff. It must be all the time thinking of his regime, it occupies a wild place in your head. I’m not complaining, I accepted the job. By cons I can not tell you how pleased it was to eat a burger when filming was over!

What you dive to the other actors who embodied Batman?
Each was great in its genre. I tried not to think about it and I followed the instructions of Zack. I thought that if we were successful, there would not even compare with what was done before. I saw the movie and I think the result speaks for itself.

You discussed with Christian Bale and George Clooney to collect their advice?
Yeah, I talked to both.

And Clooney told you not to have the apparent nipples on the costume?
It goes without saying, ah ah. And Christian said he absolutely needed a fly, you can imagine why.

Henry Cavill had played Superman in Man of Steel.He helped you find your mark in this world?
It is a result of Man of Steel , so I landed in the world of Zack Snyder and Henry Cavill. In fact we did not share many scenes with Henry, it was a bit the night shift and the day shift! We crossed our costumes, like working in the same company but do not trailed so often together. By cons when we were in the same sequences, there was something electric.

You are a big fan of comics. The geek in you had to have fun on the set. 
Oh, so many! I totally bitten one of batarangs. I put it in my pocket and told me that I had earned it. The guy accessories came the claim and I told him no. I thought I had a sort of “movie star pass” for this kind of thing. I stayed right in my boots and I flew me to Los Angeles! The guy was super pissed off: ‘Let him go to hell Ben Affleck, which brings me the Batarang!’I’ve never visited. At the end of filming, Zack gave me a great gift, the grapple Batman. I was like a kid.Besides, it’s fun, my son really think I’m Batman. And I do not know if these are the colors, but it is sure that the FedEx guy the Joker. Whenever a package arrives, ‘Daddy, the Joker is out!’

How was the meeting with Jeremy Irons (Alfred) and Jesse Eisenberg (Lex Luthor)?
I’m a fan of Jeremy since high school, he’s bluffing me completely. I knew it was going to ride with him alone and that I could rely on him to trigger real emotions in me. I hardly had to play, it came naturally. As for Jesse, his Lex Luthor is reminiscent of Kurt Cobain mixed with Larry Page, it’s great. It makes me laugh that celebrates the uniqueness of our billionaires, let them do what they want by finding it quite charming.Without ever saying for a second that may be just great mentally ill!

The film introduces Wonder Woman for the first time at the movies.
Gal Gadot has operated the character of Wonder Woman on the screen and yet it is very difficult not to fall into the ridiculous. The border is extremely thin but she admirably doing well. The most impressive action sequences in the film are actually for her.

You signed a contract on several films, this kind of commitment in the long term do not stress too much?
I love this world and I like to participate. There I still have a few and I’m very excited about Justice League . I try not to think about it.

It is still valid, your desire to achieve the next film where Batman will be solo?
Theoretically yes, if the script is good I am leaving.But that is still far away for me, then I can only think the scene I’ll turn Monday.

Source: Premiere.fr