Morgan Freeman surprised by Batman announcement
Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY 3:24 p.m. EDT August 26, 2013
Morgan Freeman, who starred in three "Dark Knight" films as Bruce Wayne's business partner, didn't get the Ben Affleck/Batman memo.
Someone forgot to brief The Dark Knight's Lucius Fox about Ben Affleck putting on the Batman suit.
Morgan Freeman, who played Bruce Wayne's wise business partner in three Dark Knight movies, was surprised by the casting when speaking to USA TODAY on Monday morning.
"This is the first I am hearing of it," said Freeman. "My first reactions are 'Wow' and 'Good luck.'"
Freeman said he was surprised because the Dark Knight trilogy only ended in 2012 with The Dark Knight Rises.
"After the trilogy, I thought that no one would try it again for a few years more to let this whole thing die down," said Freeman. "Because it's still there. So I don't know, I hope Ben does well."
On Thursday, Man of Steel director Zack Snyder announced that Affleck would join Henry Cavill, who starred as Superman, in a Batman-Superman movie out July 17, 2015.
Snyder said in a statement that Affleck "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 retains the charm that the world sees in billionaire Bruce Wayne."
When asked what he thought Affleck would bring to the part, Freeman signaled that he needed more time: "It's a good question, I have no idea."
Freeman said he was not necessarily waiting for a casting call to reprise his role as Lucius Fox.
"If the new movie does have a Lucius Fox I don't think it's going to be me," said Freeman. "It doesn't seem to work to mix characters in the movies. If you are going to change the lead character, you're probably going to change all the characters."
But Freeman definitely enjoyed working with Michael Caine, who also starred in the Dark Knight trilogy, in Now You See Me (which comes out on DVD and Blu-Ray Sept 3 and is available on digital Aug. 30).
The two veteran actors even square off in a menacing, threatening scene in the spring box office hit about four magician bank robbers (also starring Woody Harrelson and Jesse Eisenberg).
"We worked together in Batman, but as characters who didn't have much to say to each other," says Freeman of Caine. "I had a great time going face-to-face with him here. That was fun."
Originally Posted by Lucas
Morgan Freeman surprised by Batman announcement
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