Ben Affleck Cast as Batman in Man of Steel Sequel

Ben Affleck has been cast as Batman/Bruce Wayne in the upcoming Man of Steelsequel, Warner Bros. Pictures announced on Thursday.

It was first announced at this year's Comic-Con that Superman (Henry Cavill) would face off against Batman. "Ben provides an interesting counter-balance to Henry's Superman," director Zack Snyder said in a statement. "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."

Superman to face off against Batman in Man of Steel sequel

Affleck's credits include Argo, The Town, Good Will Hunting and another superhero film, 2003's Daredevil. In Hollywoodland, Affleck also played George Reeves, the star of the 1950s television series Adventures of Superman. The Oscar winner follows in the footsteps of Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney and, most recently, Christian Bale. Bale played the caped crusader for three films, but said in an interview last month that he had no plans to reprise the role a fourth time. "It's a torch that should be handed from one actor to another. So I enjoy looking forward to what somebody else will come up with," Bale told Entertainment Weekly.

The sequel, which is expected to begin production in 2014, will be written by David S. Goyer, who also wrote Man of Steel and The Dark Knight.  The film will be released on July 17, 2015.

What do you think of Affleck's casting?