Ben Affleck will play Batman in the new Batman versus Superman movie.

The move comes as a surprise to many who thought Affleck was set to focus more on directing after his success with Argo last year. Warner Bros made the announcement on Friday.

Deadline.com quoted Warner Bro’s Greg Silverman as saying: “ We knew we needed an extraordinary actor to take on one of DC comics’ most enduringly popular superheroes, and Ben Affleck certainly fits that bill, and then some. His outstanding career is a testament to his talent and we know he and director Zack Snyder will bring new dimension to the duality of this character.”

The sequel to the Superman film Man of Steel will see Clark Kent (Henry Cavill) facing off against Bruce Wayne.

There was speculation that Christian Bale, who formerly played Batman to critical and fan acclaim in The Dark Knight would be persuaded to get back into the cape, but it was not to be!

The role is perceived by many to be a risk for Affleck, who recently breathed new life into his career with his successful direction of the film Argo, which won best picture at the Oscars earlier this year.
Deadline again quoted Snyder as saying: “Ben provides an interesting counter-balance to Henry’s Superman. 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.”

Production on the new film is expected to begin next year, with a release date of 17 July 2015 planned, according to the Associated Press.