Christopher Nolan offered strong advice to writer David S. Goyer, cautioning him against joining Ben Affleck’s take on the Batman character, raising concerns about audience confusion over multiple versions. Nolan’s warning sheds light on the challenges and uncertainties surrounding major decisions in superhero casting, spotlighting the topic of Christopher Nolan advice on Ben Affleck Batman casting and the differing directions of Batman on screen.
Nolan’s Caution and Goyer’s Career Choices
David S. Goyer, who first built his reputation with scripts for all three Blade films and cult favorite Dark City, became widely known for penning Batman Begins, launching Christopher Nolan’s highly regarded Dark Knight Trilogy. Goyer collaborated with Nolan on the story for both The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises, with the Oppenheimer director shaping the tone of these landmark films. Afterward, Goyer shifted to working with Zack Snyder on Man Of Steel, marking his involvement in the separate DC Extended Universe distinct from Nolan’s trilogy.
During an appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Goyer recounted Nolan’s words of caution about getting entangled in yet another cinematic version of the Batman character.
“I remember Chris advising me not to work on the Affleck Batman, just because it’s confusing,”
—David S. Goyer, Writer.
“We did one and just stick with that.”
—David S. Goyer, Writer.
Despite these warnings, Goyer ultimately joined the project, writing the screenplay for 2016’s Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice, which introduced Ben Affleck as a new iteration of The Caped Crusader. He also held the role of executive producer for the film, committing to a vision that existed separately from the universe he and Nolan had crafted.
Behind the Scenes of Batman Begins
Goyer also reflected on the apprehension that surrounded Batman Begins, especially concerns within Warner Bros. regarding Nolan’s creative decisions. The studio expressed unease about the cinematic approach that withheld the reveal of Christian Bale’s Batman in the Batsuit for nearly an hour into the film.
“They were not happy about that,”
—David S. Goyer, Writer. However, Goyer explained the rationale behind prioritizing Bruce Wayne’s character arc over immediate action.
“We knew fairly early on that we needed to have the audience fall in love with Bruce Wayne. We had to have an amazing action sequence that involved Bruce Wayne and not Batman. That’s how we came up with that massive escape from the temple and him sliding down the ice”
—David S. Goyer, Writer.
Changing Actors and the Future of Batman
Ben Affleck took on the role of Bruce Wayne/Batman from 2016 through his brief 2023 appearance in The Flash. In March, Affleck disclosed that he had lost interest in superhero movies, describing his time as Batman as “excruciating.” The transition of actors continued as Robert Pattinson stepped in, leading 2022’s The Batman and set to reprise the role in an anticipated sequel. Despite an extended gap until 2027 for the next installment, DC chief James Gunn has emphasized the ongoing importance of Pattinson’s Batman to the studio.
Nolan’s original warning to Goyer highlights the ongoing complexities filmmakers face when creating iconic characters in rival film universes, underlining how creative decisions continue to impact the legacy and direction of the Batman franchise in Gotham and beyond.
