Affleck Draws the Line, Says He Would 'Absolutely Not' Work with Gunn on DCU

Discovery recruits James Gunn and Peter Safran to helm DC Studios as CEOs. As some eagerly anticipate the final Snyder-era films, others hope for the potential return of previous actors in upcoming projects.

However, Ben Affleck doesn't seem keen to make a comeback.

In an interview for The Hollywood Reporter on 16 March, Affleck discussed his new production company, his approach to filmmaking and mental health.

This experience also seems to be why Affleck said he was not interested when asked about the prospects of working with James Gunn.

When discussing the Justice League, the actor opined that it could serve as a case study in what not to do, citing issues with production, poor decision-making, and an uninspired approach. While he didn't criticise Snyder, the experience on Justice League led to Affleck's burnout—prompting his departure from the DC team due to a lack of originality, repetitiveness, and his own mental state.

This experience also seems to be why Affleck said he was not interested when asked about the prospects of working with James Gunn.

Despite his disinterest in joining Gunn's projects, DC fans have shown respect and empathy for Affleck's feelings:

"It's likely he wants to go out with a bang on a great memory of his role as Batman and not risk being the guy getting torn to pieces by this fandom again." Reddit user DrengisKhan commented.

Others have suggested that Affleck wants to have more creative options as a director and less control from the production company:

“But also, look at the films Affleck has directed and the ones Gunn has. Does anyone really think they'll see eye to eye on literally anything?” Redditor beingjohnmalkontent questions.

Thus, it is unlikely that we will see Affleck in a superhero role or directing a superhero movie in the future. Meanwhile, his final appearance as Batman in the DC franchise will be in The Flash, which premieres on 16 June.