Batman V. Superman: Robin, Batman’s Loss, & Suicide Squad Teased

A batcave’s worth of information has dawned for the latest cinematic incarnation of The Dark Knight.

In the latest feature on Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice, several details on Batman (played by Ben Affleck), and his history have emerged.

First up, director Zack Snyder finally put an age on his wearier version on the Caped Crusader. While audiences knew this Batman would be older, Snyder confirmed that he his 45 or 46 years old.

“He has been Batman for 20 years. All the history is there. Was there a Robin at one time? Possibly,” Snyder told Empire Magazine, obviously before the Comic Con trailer confirming Robin’s presence was released. Producer Charles Roven added, “He has lost those near and dear to him, and not necessarily from old age or disease…”

And during his lengthy tenure as Gotham’s protector, Batman has indeed tussled with The Joker (Jared Leto) and Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie). While the Sucicide Squad trailer hinted at this history, it’s now confirmed fact. The real surprise, however, is that Batman has fought and capture every super villain in DC’s Suicide Squad, which includes Deadshot, Boomerang, and Killer Croc, and several more characters.

But it was this heavy baggage that appealed to Ben Affleck, who will portray cinema’s weariest take on Batman yet: “”Initially I thought, ‘I’m older, it doesn’t seem like the right sort of fit for me,’” adds star Ben Affleck. “Then Zack pitched me his concept for this older, more broken, kind of f**ked up Batman,” Affleck told Empire. “It was something we haven’t seen. We have seen that Batman is willing to cross the line to protect people. That vigilantism has been a part of his character all along, and we are tapping into that mentality when faced by something as potentially as deadly a Superman.”

And just when Affleck’s Batman is at the end of his rope, Superman arrival will shake all of his perceptions on right, wrong, and justice. “We want to assume that Batman has reached this point in his life and career as a superhero, and Superman represents a sort of philisophical change. He is a paradigm shift for Batman: ‘I’ve been fighting criminals all my life, trying to find justice, and now I am confronted with a concept that is transcendent to me.’ In the face of Superman, a man robbing a bank doesn’t matter,” Affleck said.

“He’s having a crisis of conscience. ‘Am I really just a vigilante who stalks the alleys of Gotham?’” Snyder added. “It is rich stuff that he deals with. Ben does an amazing job.”

And interestingly, Snyder also hinted that Batman will first come across as the film’s “villain.” We suppose it’s hard not to come off that way when you pick a fight with The Man of Steel. But, Snyder clarified, the true “hero” in the upcoming skirmish will ultimately boil down to viewers’ personal opinions.

“It’s a point of view thing. That is why Dawn of Justice is the full title,” Snyder said. “What it does is allow us to start this conversation.”

So there you have it, folks: Everything you wanted to know about Affleck’s Batman, and more. But what do you think about this’ Batman’s history? Let us know in the comments!

Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice hits theaters on March 25. And to see when DC Comics’ other movies open, head to ComicBook.com’s Comic Book Movie Database.

Via ComicBookMovie.