Ben Affleck once revealed that he decided to quit as Batman following discussions with his long-time friend Matt Damon. Affleck first wore the cape in 2016 as an older, battle-scarred Bruce Wayne in the DC Extended Universe and was praised for his grittier take on the character. Since then, he has appeared in several DC films, but his run as the Dark Knight was full of behind-the-scenes controversies, creative changes, and years of speculation about his future as the character. 

Affleck eventually shared the personal and professional turning point that ultimately led him to leave the cape behind. 

Ben Affleck has once said that his long-time friend Matt Damon was instrumental in his decision to step away from Batman after the troubled shoot for Justice League. In retrospect, once while talking to the Entertainment Weekly in 2022, Affleck said Damon pushed him to reconsider the direction of his career and be more selective about the projects he took. The actor revealed that his time on Justice League was a turning point for him, and that it made him realize he did not want to repeat an experience that left him creatively and personally drained. 

“But really what it was is that I wasn’t happy. I didn’t like being there,” the actor acknowledged that he realized he was no longer happy on set, prompting him to rethink his career. 

During the same interview with Entertainment Weekly, Affleck noted that his stint on Justice League was the lowest period of his career life due to several reasons. However, even though he stated that he never blamed anyone for this, he acknowledged the fact that the project had become less exciting in terms of creativity and had been marred by some very unpleasant moments. He then concluded that the experience made him realize that he did not wish to do this anymore, which made him reconsider his career path.

The actor further revealed that he had spoken to Damon about his intention, stating that he considered him to be the reason why he decided to shift his professional path. Affleck admitted that he needed films that would make him happy, noting The Last Duel as the turning point of his career. Even though he had played a rather unpleasant villain rather than a lead, he had found this film extremely pleasant since he did not care about what others expected from him anymore. 

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That conversation was hardly surprising given the decades-long friendship and creative partnership the two have shared. 

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon share one of Hollywood’s oldest friendships, having grown up together in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The two of them had acted together since they were kids, until they became international stars for Good Will Hunting (1997), which they co-wrote and starred in. The film earned them an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and jump-started both careers. Over the years, the couple has always credited each other for honest advice and steadfast support through the highs and lows of their profession. 

The creative partnership has lasted far beyond Good Will Hunting. The pair reunited for projects including Dogma, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, The Last Duel, and Air, the latter marking the first release from their production company, Artists Equity. They have often talked about preferring collaboration to competition, and Damon has often been one of Affleck's most trusted sounding boards. Affleck's latest comments further demonstrates how much Damon's mentorship has shaped his career decisions and worldview. 

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Could Ben Affleck and Matt Damon's friendship be Hollywood's greatest creative partnership? Let us know in the comments.