Ben Affleck Praises MCU’s Feige, But Questions DCU Direction

Ben Affleck thinks DC still hasn’t settled the most basic question facing its superhero movies: are they made for children, adults, or both? In a new interview with Variety, the former Batman said the studio remains caught between a darker, more adult version of its characters and a version broad enough for younger audiences. “The interesting thing with the DC characters comes down to the legacy of Frank Miller,” Affleck told Variety. “There seems to be more tension between, are we doing the grown-up version or the one that’s open to kids?” Affleck warned that trying to satisfy both audiences at once can leave a superhero movie without a clear identity. “There’s a risk of being a feathered fish,” he said. “It’s something they’re still navigating at DC.” That concern is still very personal for Affleck. He played Batman in Zack Snyder’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and later appeared in Justice League, two films that became central examples of the debate over whether DC should compete with Marvel’s family-friendly formula or pursue a more mature tone. Affleck said he enjoyed making the first film, despite the criticism it received. “Yeah. I really liked doing Batman v Superman,...