With a career spanning nearly 40 years, Ben Affleck has tried his hand at both acting and directing, having his acting debut in 1984’s educational series The Voyage of the Mimi. Following this role, Affleck delved into the film industry and received a warm welcome, primarily through his writing and acting credits on Gus Van Sant’s Good Will Hunting, the 1997 drama he co-wrote with co-star Matt Damon. In the early 2000s, the actor came under director Kevin Smith’s wing, appearing in his features including Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back and Clerks. Affleck’s career has seen many strengths; however, one role has plagued his status since its 2004 release. Daredevil, the Marvel comic book adaptation directed by Mark Steven Johnson, has haunted Affleck for the last 18 years as one of his biggest regrets.
In the film, Affleck plays Matt Murdock, a blind lawyer from
Hell’s Kitchen in New York who lives a double life, fighting crime during
the night as masked vigilante Daredevil. After Murdock meets and falls for
Elektra Nachios, played by Affleck’s real-life ex-wife Jennifer Garner, he
finds his secret identity challenging to hide. Things get even more
complicated when Nachios’ father is targeted by the notorious crime boss
Kingpin, played by the dearly missed Michael Clarke Duncan. Daredevil was
released at the peak of early 2000s comic adaptations, between Blade and the
X-men series. The film captures the mall goth style that was a growing trend
of the time, evident in its moody tone and nu-metal soundtrack that includes
Evanescence’s iconic ‘Bring me to Life’.
This now incredibly outdated style managed to garner some
praise following the film’s release. Daredevil offers some eventful action
sequences and stands out in Marvel’s filmography as a darker feature
incorporating religious imagery. However, Affleck’s performance as Murdock
failed to impress, with some cheesy dialogue and stiff stunts. Other than
his impressive chemistry with Garner, who he had confessed he fell in love
with during filming, the actor stifles the film. This is something Affleck
acknowledges in later years, sharing: “The only movie I actually regret is
Daredevil. It just kills me. I love that story, that character, and the fact
that it got fucked up the way it did stays with me.”
Affleck was so disappointed with the film that he swore he
would never appear in another superhero action flick again, even stating he
felt so embarrassed wearing the costume. However, he soon went back on this
when it was revealed in 2013 he would become the sixth actor to play the
iconic DC comics hero Batman in a live-action feature, officially becoming
the DC Cinematic Universe’s version of the hero. Affleck first appeared as
the Dark Knight in Zack Snyder’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,
released in 2016 to negative reviews, and last appeared in 2017’s Justice
League and then in the 2021 Zack Synder cut of the film. The actor reflects
on his disappointment with Daredevil as “part of the motivation to do
Batman”.
Affleck is set to return as Bruce Wayne in the upcoming The
Flash film, directed by Andy Muschietti and starring Ezra Miller as the
titular character. Muschietti has shared how Affleck’s return will play a
huge part in the film’s “emotional impact”. However, when it comes to his
first time playing a superhero, the star added: “If I thought the result
would be another Daredevil, I’d be out there picketing myself. [laughs] Why
would I make the movie if I didn’t think it was going to be good and that I
can be good in it?”
Later, Affleck worded his views on Daredevil
more strongly: “Part of it was I wanted for once to get one of these movies
and do it right – to do a good version. I hate Daredevil so much.”
Luckily
for Affleck, Daredevil has been swept under the rug following the MCU and
Avengers dominating the comic book film world. The underrated Daredevil
comics were later resurrected in Netflix’s masterpiece show Daredevil, with
Charlie Cox taking up the role.
