Ben Affleck has spoken out about his experience making Justice League, describing the reshoot period as the "lowest point" of his career. In a recent interview on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Affleck detailed his negative feelings about the production, citing studio interference and personal struggles.
Affleck, who was set to direct and star in his own Batman film, explained that the experience of Justice League soured him on helming projects within the DC universe. He stated, "The truth is, the experience of Justice League was so, so negative for lots of different reasons." He elaborated that while personal issues and tragedies factored in, a significant problem was "when the studio is at odds with the filmmaker. You're really making a mistake. That was what really doomed that."
The troubled production of Justice League saw significant clashes between director Zack Snyder and Warner Bros. Following the critical reception of Batman v Superman and the film's failure to meet financial expectations, pressure mounted on Snyder to alter the tone and story of Justice League. Snyder eventually had to step down from the project due to a family tragedy, leading Warner Bros. to bring in Joss Whedon to oversee reshoots.
Affleck alleged that the studio used Snyder's personal tragedy as an "excuse" to take control of the film. He also alluded to accounts of mistreatment during the reshoots, referencing reports from actors like Ray Fisher and Gal Gadot, which he learned about second-hand. "It was so gross," Affleck commented on the situation.
This period coincided with personal difficulties for Affleck, including divorce and struggles with alcoholism. He ultimately stepped away from the Batman role and did not direct his planned solo film, with the project eventually being taken over by Matt Reeves and starring Robert Pattinson. Affleck did, however, reprise the role for the recently released film The Flash and also appeared in Zack Snyder's Justice League director's cut.
There have been reports of regret from former Warner Bros. executives regarding the handling of Snyder's tenure with the DC universe. Despite lingering hopes from some fans for a continuation of Snyder's vision, Affleck's comments suggest that the Justice League production was a profoundly negative experience for those involved.