Ben Affleck Calls Filming ‘Justice League’ a “Low Point” in His Career: “About as Gross as It Gets”

Ben Affleck recently described his experience filming the 2017 superhero film Justice League as a low point in his career. During an appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, the actor characterized the production as a negative experience, noting that it served as a lesson in how not to manage a film when a studio and a filmmaker are at odds.

The production of the film was marked by significant challenges. Original director Zack Snyder stepped away from the project in May 2017 following the death of his daughter. Warner Bros. subsequently brought in Joss Whedon to oversee post-production and conduct two months of reshoots. Affleck noted that he was navigating personal difficulties at the time, including struggles with alcoholism and a divorce, which contributed to the period being particularly difficult.

Affleck’s history with the Batman franchise was originally intended to be more extensive. He was slated to direct, produce, co-write, and star in a solo Batman film before eventually stepping away from those roles. This led to the project being reimagined under director Matt Reeves, eventually resulting in the casting of Robert Pattinson. Affleck’s tenure as the character was ultimately limited to appearances in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Justice League, and a brief role in 2023's The Flash.

Beyond his past work in the superhero genre, Affleck has recently been involved in the Netflix thriller Animals, in which he directs and stars alongside Kerry Washington. The film has received mixed critical reception, with some reviewers describing it as a project with compelling elements, while others have suggested the narrative is stretched too thin.

As part of the promotional efforts for the thriller, Affleck engaged in a unique marketing campaign. He appeared in character to jokingly campaign for mayor in Los Angeles, telling potential voters not to cast their ballots for him. Additionally, the actor has maintained professional connections with his former colleagues, reportedly offering a role to Joe Manganiello following the latter's departure from a different project.