And the New Batman Is...

Actor Ben Affleck will replace Christian Bale as Batman in the upcoming Batman-Superman movie scheduled for a July 2015 release, Warner Bros. announced on Thursday.

LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 17: Actor Ben Affleck onstage to present Jimmy V award at The 2013 ESPY Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on July 17, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. Credit: Getty Images for ESPY 

From the official Warner Bros. press release:

Ending weeks of speculation, Ben Affleck has been set to star as Batman, a.k.a. Bruce Wayne. Affleck and filmmaker Zack Snyder will create an entirely new incarnation of the character in Snyder's as-yet-untitled project—bringing Batman and Superman together for the first time on the big screen and continuing the director's vision of their universe, which he established in "Man of Steel." The announcement was made today by Greg Silverman, President, Creative Development and Worldwide Production, and Sue Kroll, President, Worldwide Marketing and International Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures

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Affleck will star opposite Henry Cavill, who will reprise the role of Superman/Clark Kent. The film will also reunite “Man of Steel” stars Amy Adams, Laurence Fishburne and Diane Lane.

Affleck isn't completely inexperienced in the superhero realm. He played Daredevil in the 2003 movie of the same title.

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