The Accountant’s Ben Affleck and J.K. Simmons will soon reteam for the solo Batman movie
Academy Award winners Ben Affleck and J.K. Simmons both headline next month’s The Accountant, Gavin O’Connor’s dramatic thriller about an autistic math savant whose investigation in a company’s finances soon turns deadly. Although The Accountant marks their first project together to hit theaters, they’ve already completed work on their second: Zach Snyder’s Justice League. Affleck is reprising his Batman role for that film with Simmons set to make his debut as Gotham City Police Commissioner James Gordon.
“For me, it was another example of getting to be a supporting guy,” Simmons told us today during a press junket for The Accountant, “and getting to work with Ben again.”
“Movies are all about the director. I’ve learned that, finally,” Affleck smiled. “When you work with a director, you’re on his or her ship. You’re going in that direction. Your job is to be creative and bring forth your ideas, but to fulfill this person’s vision of how they’re telling the whole story. You have a silo that you’re responsible for in your performance. For me, it’s about getting as in tune with a director as possible. You’re making their movie… The nice thing about acting is that, if the set falls down, you can just go back to your trailer. Things are not my problem.”
Although it’s no big surprise, it sounds like Justice League won’t be the last time we see Affleck and Simmons together. Simmons essentially confirmed that he’ll be back for the upcoming solo Batman movie, tentatively set for a 2019 release with Affleck both starring and sitting in the director’s chair.
“I’m trying to wrap my mind around the whole ‘director is god’ thing,” Simmons laughed in response to Affleck’s comments. “There might be some of that going on in the future. Wow. What am I in for?”
Although questioned directly about the solo Batman movie and it’s status, Affleck declined to offer much of an update saying that the film is “way too far off.” When a reporter asked about how Batman might fare against his character from The Accountant, however, Affleck knew exactly what to say.
“I’ve only ever thought about beating Jason Bourne,” he grinned.
“Oh,” reassured Simmons, “You’ll kick his ass for sure.”
Check back soon for more from The Accountant, including an exclusive conversation with director Gavin O’Conner. You can catch it on the big screen October 14. Justice League, meanwhile, will arrive in theaters November 10, 2017. Check back for updates on it and the solo Batman movie as they develop.
