Ben Affleck has revisited his difficult experience filming Justice League, describing the controversial reshoots as the lowest point of his Hollywood career. The actor criticised Warner Bros.’ handling of Zack Snyder’s departure from the 2017 DC film and questioned the circumstances surrounding the director’s replacement by Joss Whedon.
Speaking on Josh Horowitz’s Happy Sad Confused podcast on October 12, Affleck reflected on the troubled production and its lasting impact on his experience playing Batman.
“If you want the low point of my career, it was that,” Affleck said, referring to Snyder’s departure and the subsequent reshoots.
Why Ben Affleck Criticised Zack Snyder’s Replacement
Snyder stepped away from Justice League following the death of his daughter, Autumn, in 2017. Warner Bros. subsequently brought in Joss Whedon to oversee extensive reshoots and complete the film.
Affleck alleged that Snyder’s family tragedy was used as a justification for removing him from the project, calling the handling of the situation “so gross.”
The actor also criticised the broader working environment, although he acknowledged that some of what he knew about his colleagues’ experiences came secondhand.
Affleck’s comments reflect his personal assessment of the studio’s decisions, rather than independently establishing Warner Bros.’ motivations.
How Justice League Changed Ben Affleck’s Batman Journey
Affleck explained that the disagreement between the studio and its filmmaker demonstrated how a major production could go wrong.
The theatrical version of Justice League received mixed-to-negative reviews and earned approximately $661 million worldwide, falling short of expectations for DC’s superhero team-up.
However, Snyder eventually completed his own version, Zack Snyder’s Justice League, which premiered on HBO Max in 2021.
Affleck welcomed that development, expressing satisfaction that Snyder finally got to share his intended vision.
The experience also contributed to Affleck reconsidering his future as Batman. His planned standalone film never materialised, with Matt Reeves eventually developing The Batman starring Robert Pattinson.
Nearly a decade later, Affleck’s remarks illustrate how deeply the production’s creative conflicts affected those involved.
