Ben Affleck isn’t mincing words about his time in the iconic Batman costume. In a candid GQ video interview, the 52-year-old actor admitted he “hated” wearing the Batsuit during his stints in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), Justice League (2017), and The Flash (2023), describing the suit as “horrendous” and “incredibly hot.”
“The Batsuits are horrendous to wear,” Affleck said. “They don’t breathe. They’re made to look the way they want ‘em to look, and there’s no thought put into the human being. You just start sweating.”
Affleck explained that once the cowl went on, it trapped heat and made filming feel like a physical battle. “I’m already— I sweat, you know what I mean? I get hot. In that thing, you would just be pouring water.”
Even the professional stunt team struggled in the suit, with Affleck revealing that even the most elite performers could only last about 45 minutes before risking heat stroke. “You had to come out of it,” he said.
The suit’s discomfort impacted more than just physical endurance—it made staying in character a challenge. “It does not make you feel very heroic because you’re instantly exhausted and really sweaty… trying to hide the sweat pouring down your face. Eye black running. It’s just not fun.”
While other Batman actors like Christian Bale and Robert Pattinson seemed to handle it better, Affleck admitted the suit was “the least fun part” of the role and contributed to his decision to step away from superhero movies altogether.
“There are a number of reasons why that [playing Batman] was a really excruciating experience,” he told GQ. “I’ve lost interest in what was of interest about it to me… I certainly wouldn’t want to replicate an experience like that.”
Affleck reflected on the overall misalignment behind the scenes and his own personal struggles at the time, adding, “I wasn’t bringing a lot of positive energy to the equation… You’ve got to do a little bit better than that.”
