Batman Stares, Superman Glares In New ‘Batman vs. Superman’ Pics

We’re still eight months out from Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice, but Empire magazine (via CBM) is wasting no time in promoting the latest Zack Snyder assault on the senses. The feature includes insight from Ben Affleck on his decision to play Batman, new details on Aquaman’s involvement in the movie, and the connection to Suicide Squad and other DC solo films.

Ben Affleck on playing Batman:

“Initially I thought, ‘I’m older, it doesn’t seem like the right sort of fit for me. Then Zack pitched me his concept for this older, more broken, kind of f**ked up Batman. It was something we haven’t seen. We have seen that Batman is willing to cross the line to protect people. That vigilantism has been a part of his character all along, and we are tapping into that mentality when faced by something as potentially as deadly as Superman.”

Zack Snyder on his version of Batman:

“We are playing him 45 or 46. He has been Batman for 20 years. All the history is there. Was there a Robin at one time? Possibly. We want to assume that Batman has reached this point in his life and career as a superhero, and Superman represents a sort of philosophical change. He is a paradigm shift for Batman: ‘I’ve been fighting criminals all my life, trying to find justice, and now I am confronted with a concept that is transcendent to me.’ In the face of Superman, a man robbing a bank doesn’t matter. He’s having a crisis of conscience. ‘Am I really just a vigilante who stalks the alleys of Gotham?’ It is rich stuff that he deals with. Ben does an amazing job.”

Snyder on Aquaman’s presence in Dawn of Justice:

“You will understand he exists.”

Snyder on the DC Universe interconnecting through films:

“What we are doing is ground up all the way. It is one giant story. The first thing we had was the Justice League concept. The other movies, in a way, have to support that.”