Ben Affleck cast as Batman for Man of Steel sequel

Warner Bros. has officially announced that Ben Affleck will play Batman in the upcoming sequel to Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel.

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.

Just as Snyder re-imagined the origin of Superman in Man of Steel, the director will now create an original vision of Batman and his world for the film that brings the two DC Comics icons together.

Snyder expressed his excitement about the casting of Affleck, saying, “Ben provides an interesting counter-balance to Henry’s Superman. He has the acting chops to create a layered portrayal of a man who is older and wiser than Clark Kent and bears the scars of a seasoned crime fighter, but retain the charm that the world sees in billionaire Bruce Wayne. I can’t wait to work with him.”

The studio has slated the film to open on July 17, 2015.