Ben Affleck has delivered a scathing assessment of Justice League, saying he believed Warner Bros. used Zack Snyder's daughter's death as an excuse to replace the director with Joss Whedon. The actor, who played Batman in the 2017 superhero film, described the reshoots as the lowest point of his career and criticised how the production was handled.
His remarks revisit one of DC's most troubled blockbuster productions, which saw Snyder step away during post-production following a family tragedy before Whedon took over the film's completion. Affleck also recalled the difficult atmosphere surrounding the reshoots, while acknowledging that some of the accounts he heard about the set came secondhand from fellow actors.
Affleck's Explosive Studio Accusation
Affleck did not hold back when discussing Snyder's departure, arguing that the director's family tragedy should have eclipsed the production's other concerns. He took particular issue with what he perceived as the studio using the circumstances as an excuse to bring in Whedon. 'The way in which that was, I thought, used as an excuse [to replace Zack with Joss Whedon] was one of the shittiest things I've ever seen,' Affleck said during an appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast.
The bracketed phrase clarifies the context of his remarks rather than representing words necessarily spoken verbatim. The actor described the situation as 'so gross', directing his criticism at the handling of Snyder's exit and the subsequent reshoots. His comments reflect his personal assessment of the studio's actions, rather than independently established evidence of its motives.
Snyder's Daughter's Tragic Death
Snyder stepped away from Justice League during post-production in 2017 after his daughter Autumn died by suicide. The filmmaker had been working on the DC superhero ensemble before the personal tragedy led him to withdraw from the project. Whedon, who had previously directed Marvel's The Avengers, subsequently took over to complete the film and oversee extensive reshoots.
Snyder's departure and the change in directors became defining parts of the movie's production history, with Affleck now expressing his disapproval of how the situation was handled. Affleck's reported remarks emphasised the gravity of the loss, with the actor highlighting that a death by suicide should eclipse other concerns. He argued that the studio's response was particularly troubling given the personal tragedy Snyder had experienced.
The Reshoots Became a Career Low for Affleck
For Affleck, the problems surrounding Justice League went beyond disagreements over creative decisions. He described the experience as deeply negative, making it clear that the film represented a particularly difficult chapter in his professional life.
'If you want the low point of my career, it was that,' he said, referring to the reshoots. Affleck also recalled hearing troubling accounts from other actors about the atmosphere on set, while clarifying that he had not personally witnessed everything described to him.
The theatrical release received a mixed-to-negative critical reception and underperformed commercially relative to expectations. Snyder estimated that Whedon's reshoots covered around 60 new pages of material, illustrating the scale of the changes made during the overhaul, although the figure remains Snyder's estimate rather than an independently verified production tally.
Affleck Faced Personal Struggles
Affleck also acknowledged that the production period coincided with significant personal difficulties. He has spoken about drinking too much and experiencing the breakdown of his marriage during that broader period, describing it as a painful chapter in his life. However, his personal struggles should not be confused with his criticism of the film's production.
Affleck distinguished the difficulties he was experiencing privately from the problems he associated with the movie itself. The experience also affected his relationship with the Batman role. In an earlier interview, Affleck described making Justice League as a nadir experience and recalled reaching a point when he no longer wanted to continue playing the superhero.
Snyder Eventually Released His Cut
Despite his criticism of the theatrical production, Affleck expressed happiness that Snyder eventually released his own version of the film. Zack Snyder's Justice League arrived on HBO Max in 2021, giving audiences a substantially different version of the superhero story. Affleck praised the release, saying he was 'really glad and gratified' that Snyder had been able to share his cut.
He added that he was 'really happy for him', offering a supportive note after his pointed criticism of the original production. The Snyder Cut marked a significant moment for fans who had campaigned for the director's version to be released. For Affleck, its arrival offered a welcome contrast to an experience he continues to regard as one of the most difficult of his career.
Whedon's Tenure Faced Further Scrutiny
Whedon's time working on Justice League later attracted additional scrutiny after cast members raised allegations about his conduct. Gal Gadot accused the director of threatening her career during the production, an allegation Whedon denied. Those allegations added another layer to the film's complicated production history, although they are separate from Affleck's criticism of Warner Bros.' handling of Snyder's departure.
Affleck's remarks focus on the director's exit, the reshoots and the atmosphere surrounding the project, rather than establishing the truth of other cast members' allegations. Ultimately, Affleck's account offers a candid look at a blockbuster production that left a lasting impression on one of its leading stars. His description of Justice League as a career low illustrates how damaging the experience was for him personally, while his support for Snyder's later cut provides a contrasting perspective on the film's troubled history.
