Summary
Ben Affleck never made a soloBatmanmovie in theDCEU, although an animated Arkham film released in 2014 comes close to what the filmmaker had planned. Following the actor’s casting inthe DCEU timelineas Bruce Wayne inBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,Ben Affleck’s celebrated careerseemed to be leading to his directing and starring in a Batman film. Details surrounding the picture are inconclusive, but what is known is that it was intended to be calledThe Batman, that Joe Manganiello was set to play the villain, and that it would take place in Arkham Asylum.
Arkham Asylum has been an essential part of Batman lore, appearing most recently in Matt Reeves’The Batmanfilmseries that replaced Ben Affleck’s. This iteration is receiving its ownArkham AsylumTV spin-off, but until then,Arkham Asylum has mostly been an intermittently featured location in the series and not a place for extended storytelling. There are two exceptions to this: the first being theArkhamseries of Batman video games, and the second being an animated spin-off of those games.
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Batman: Assault On Arkham Is A Very Unique Dark Knight Movie
Building on many of the same stories that were shaping up in the DCEU with theSuicide Squad,Batman: Assault on Arkhamfeels akin to Ben Affleck’s plan forThe Batman. In the animated movie,Amanda Waller assembles a Suicide Squad to break into Arkham Asylum and steal information from The Riddler.Featuring an enormous cast of characters, the movie is set in the DC animated universe but is based on theArkhamvideo games. This adaptation was selective and loose with the video game canon, with some voice actors from the games reprising their roles and others not.
Few cinematic takes on Batman have been able to contend with a large cast of characters.Batman & Robinwas criticized for its oversized cast, which included Mr. Freeze, Bane, and Poison Ivy against a team of heroes, although that was hardly the worst feature of that film. With some consideringAssault on Arkhamthe best Suicide Squad movie,it seems possible to find a perfect balance with each character in a larger Batman story.This successful execution of a large cast makesBatman: Assault on Arkhama model for the DCU to follow with its skilled storytelling and character management.
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Batman: Assault On Arkham Has Notable Ties To Ben Affleck’s DC Story Plans
While Deathstroke isn’t featured inBatman: Assault on Arkham, the film still resembles much of what Ben Affleck seemingly had planned for his Batman movie. Like both the animated movie andThe Batman,Affleck’s film was set to take place in an already realized universe.There would be many villains in the world, some of which The Dark Knight had faced, others which he had not yet. Dedicating time to Batman’s full rogue’s gallery is a concept that the movies have still only achieved to a limited degree, makingAssault on Arkhamall the more notable as a result.
Similarly, just as inAssault on Arkham, a significant portion of Affleck’s film was planned to be set in the iconic Arkham Asylum.The plot would revolve around the captured villains and teases like Robin’s suit inBatman v Supermanwould be further explored. WithSuicide Squadpreceding its release, the possibility of Harley Quinn and Captain Boomerang making an appearance in the Affleck film, just as they did inBatman: Assault on Arkham, seemed likely.
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Batman: Assault On Arkham Shows What The DCU Could Look Like
The DC Universe appears to be following the pattern set up inAssault on Arkhamby building a world big enough for dozens of characters to coexist. Without a single film yet released, and with only one being filmed,everything known aboutSupermanandthe DC universe has already confirmed an enormous cast that includes Supergirl, Hawkgirl, Mr. Terrific, Green Lantern, and many others.It makes sense that this enormous world will also feature numerous villains, although only Lex Luthor and the Engineer have yet been confirmed.
LikeAssault on Arkham, James Gunn understands that DC Comics are big and varied, with a number of interlocking stories occurring at all times - and that detailing less focal figures often pays dividends for the superhero genre.Audiences have grown to understand the size and shape of these universes, especially after the enormous success of the MCU.With a focus on Amanda Waller confirmed for the DCU, anArkhamseries in the works, and James Gunn’s previous involvement withThe Suicide Squad, stories almost exactly likeBatman: Assault on Arkhamcan and may take place in the new DCU.
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Unfortunately, a Ben Affleck solo Batman film will likely never exist, even if there is hope ofAffleck being recast in the DCU. Still, the inspirations behind that planned film can still be found in the Batman adaptations that have since followed. Pulling from pieces in the Matt Reeves universe andThe Brave and the Boldin the DCEU, audiences can see some of the components of the abandonedBatmanfilm that nearly came together under Ben Affleck.
Batman: Assault on Arkham
Cast
Based on DC Comics' universe, Batman: Assault on Arkham is an animated film directed by Jay Oliva and Ethan Spaulding. Set between the events of Batman: Arkham Origins and Batman: Arkham Asylum, the story follows the Suicide Squad, a team of criminals assembled by Amanda Waller, as they infiltrate Arkham Asylum to retrieve vital information. Batman becomes involved, posing a significant challenge to both the criminals and their government handlers.
