00:06We all know there's one person fans are dying to see make a proper return in James Gunn's
00:11DCU, and that's Ben Affleck's Batman. The version of Batman that never got his solo movie,
00:17the one fans hoped would get a final epic send-off, well, there's been a lot of teasing
00:22over the years, and some of it may have already happened, at least in glimpses. For instance,
00:26a few think Affleck's Batman might have already had a cameo in Creature Commandos,
00:31the animated series, but it's unclear if that counts as a real introduction.
00:36Because of that ambiguity, the chatter online has grown, with rumors hinting that Affleck's
00:41Batman could finally get a solo project in the new DCU. So, let's dive into what these rumors
00:47suggest and why it might actually happen. Even though plans for an Affleck-led Batman
00:52movie were scrapped multiple times, there's a persistent buzz that fans are loving.
00:57Some of these rumors speculate that Lobo, set to appear in the upcoming Supergirl film,
01:03could cross paths with Affleck's Batman. And a few go further, suggesting that they could
01:08even fight on screen. Maybe it's a flashback, a multiversal collision, or even part of a bigger
01:13storyline tying into Gunn's DCU. It might sound out there, but for comic fans,
01:18this isn't unprecedented. Lobo and Batman have collided more than once in the pages of DC Comics.
01:25Take Batman Superman Vol. 2 No. 28, for instance, a brutal clash packed with raw power and snarky
01:31one-liners. And in Batman vs. Lobo DC First, we saw just how chaotic and wild their dynamic can be.
01:38So if Gunn wants to bring that explosive energy to life, the groundwork is already laid.
01:43Speaking of suicidal characters, let's not forget Joker. Jared Leto's portrayal has had a rough
01:49reception over the years. In Suicide Squad, many fans weren't impressed. Too many tattoos,
01:55too much edge, and not enough of that classic chaotic charisma. But Snyder gave Leto a chance
02:00at redemption with that tense nightmare sequence in Zack Snyder's Justice League. And strangely,
02:06it worked. The tension between Joker and Batman felt real and layered, almost unsettling in the
02:12best way. In The Dark Knight Returns, Joker is manipulative, cruel, and deeply entwined with
02:18Batman's psyche. If Leto leaned into that more cerebral, sadistic version of the character instead
02:24of the mob boss angle, it could be a perfect setup for a final confrontation that hits hard emotionally,
02:30while giving fans the chaotic Joker-Batman dynamic they've been craving.
02:34Now, stepping back a little, there's one story that could tie all these threads together
02:39and give Affleck the proper send-off he never got, Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns.
02:44It's a legendary comic, beloved for a reason, and it's practically tailor-made for the version of
02:50Batman Affleck played. A grizzled, aging vigilante, hardened by loss and experience, forced to come out
02:56of retirement for one last fight. It fits beautifully with the tone Snyder established, and it provides a
03:02natural platform to revisit key characters, like Jared Leto's Joker, The Nightmare Future, and even
03:08Deathstroke, who was supposed to be central in Affleck's cancelled solo film.
03:13This brings us back to Affleck's solo Batman movie, which was originally going to be written,
03:18directed, and starred in by him. That movie was meant to feature Deathstroke as the main villain,
03:24with early footage even teasing Joe Manganiello in costume. Sadly, it never came together.
03:30But now, if The Dark Knight Returns were adapted into a film in the current DCU,
03:35elements of that scrapped project could be reintroduced. Deathstroke could return for a
03:40climactic battle, or the movie could borrow the darker, grounded tone Affleck envisioned,
03:45giving fans a glimpse of what might have been without stepping on Matt Reeves' separate Batman universe.
03:51And then there's the nightmare timeline. That post-apocalyptic, dystopian vision teased
03:57in Batman vs. Superman, and brought to life in the Snyder Cut, had so much untapped potential.
04:03Darkseid conquering Earth, Superman falling to corruption, and Batman leading a small resistance.
04:09There's weight, scope, and tension there. Snyder had plans to explore that further through time
04:14travel, alternate futures, and the Justice League fighting to change destiny. A Dark Knight Returns
04:20inspired movie could tap into all of that, giving us a glimpse of what became of that version of Earth.
04:26Maybe Bruce sacrifices himself to change the timeline, or maybe we see a world gone too far
04:31to fix. Either way, it would provide closure to a story that's been dangling for years.
04:37We also can't forget about the murdered Robin, whose death loomed over Batman silently.
04:42The costume, defaced with Joker's handwriting in Batman vs. Superman, hinted at a tragedy that was
04:49never explored. Snyder intended to introduce Carrie Kelly, the young, spunky girl who becomes
04:55Robin in The Dark Knight Returns. She would have been a bright spot in Bruce's otherwise bleak world,
05:01offering emotional depth and showing how a weary Batman begins to rediscover hope.
05:06Their bond could have been one of the most touching elements in a finale, letting audiences
05:10see Bruce grieve, rebuild, and ultimately pass on his legacy.
05:15One criticism of Affleck's Batman in the DCEU has been how underused the classic rogue gallery was.
05:22Joker and Harley Quinn appeared, sure, but villains like Two-Face, Scarecrow, or Riddler were
05:28conspicuously absent. In The Dark Knight Returns, Batman faces the mutant leader, witnesses Harvey Dent's
05:35psychological decline, and as a chilling final encounter with Joker. Add Deathstroke and Catwoman
05:41into the mix, and you've got a villain roster that tests Bruce physically, mentally, and emotionally,
05:46a true finale for the character.
05:49But it's not just about closing Batman's story, it's about giving the Snyderverse the send-off it deserves.
05:55The DCEU has been a rollercoaster, with highs like Man of Steel and Zack Snyder's Justice League,
06:01and lows like inconsistent continuity and scrapped projects. A Dark Knight Returns-inspired movie could
06:08be the perfect farewell to that era, letting every character have meaningful closure.
06:12Even if some actors carry over to Gunn's DCU, this story could function as a proper epilogue,
06:18wrapping up dangling arcs and rewarding longtime fans.
06:22So, why hasn't this happened yet? Mostly, it comes down to shifting priorities and behind-the-scenes
06:27drama. Initially, Ben Affleck was fully committed, he wanted to direct and star in his own movie,
06:33but eventually he stepped away from directing to focus on acting, and later exited the project
06:38entirely. Warner Bros. brought in Matt Reeves, who cast Robert Pattinson as a younger, stand-alone
06:44Batman, and crafted a different universe. While the Batman was a hit, it quietly marked the end of
06:50Affleck's iteration in the DCEU.
06:53Affleck did appear briefly in The Flash, but it left fans confused rather than satisfied.
06:58He had a solid action sequence and a touching moment with Barry Allen, but the twist ending,
07:03bringing in George Clooney's Bruce Wayne, blurred timelines and left Affleck's Batman arc unresolved.
07:10That unresolved storyline has only fueled fan calls for a proper send-off, and many believe the
07:15Dark Knight Returns could be the perfect way to finally deliver it. Meanwhile, the DCU is moving
07:22forward with a brand new Batman in The Brave and the Bold, who is older than Pattinson's but younger
07:27than Affleck's version. He's already a father to Damian Wayne, suggesting a seasoned crime fighter
07:33still in his prime. While this is an exciting direction, fans are still rooting for Affleck's
07:38Batman to get a definitive conclusion, especially with Lobo joining the mix in Supergirl.
07:44Fans are speculating that since Batman and Lobo have clashed in the comics, there's a real
07:49opportunity for Gunn to bring that rivalry to the screen. Lobo's chaotic strength versus Batman's
07:55strategy would be cinematic gold, whether as a cameo, a flashback, or part of a multiverse collision.
08:02Even more exciting, a Dark Knight Returns-style film could weave together all the threads that fans
08:08have been waiting for. It could reintroduce Deathstroke, revisit the nightmare timeline, explore
08:14Carrie Kelly as Robin, and give Joker a true psychological showdown. It would finally provide
08:20closure for Affleck's Batman, while allowing the DCU to reboot cleanly under Gunn's guidance.
08:25All of this adds up to one thing. Affleck deserves this movie, and fans are ready for it. Between the
08:32rumors, the potential for multiversal crossovers, and the sheer number of storylines that could be explored,
08:38it feels like the perfect time. Gunn's DCU has already hinted at embracing legacy characters and
08:44multiverse ideas, which could allow Affleck's Batman to appear without complicating the new
08:49continuity. And honestly, seeing him face off against Lobo, battle Deathstroke, and confront Joker one
08:55last time? That's a finale fans have been waiting for over a decade. So while the path has been messy,
09:02with cancelled projects, shifting studios, and reboots, the stars are aligning. Lobo's cinematic
09:07debut, the multiverse angle, and Gunn's willingness to bring together legacy characters all point toward
09:13Affleck's Batman finally getting the send-off he's always deserved. It might take a few more
09:18announcements or leaks to confirm, but the buzz is real and the setup is there. And that's that for
09:23today's video. Thanks for watching and we'll see you in the next one.
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