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Daredevil and Hollywoodland star Ben Affleck will pull on the Caped Crusader’s cowl for the second Man of Steel film, Warner Brothers have confirmed.

Man of Steel director Zack Snyder stated at Comic-Con that the film would feature both Superman and Batman, and there have been various reports that Dark Knight star Christian Bale was being offered huge sums to reprise the role he played in Christopher Nolan’s trilogy. However Affleck, who played Superman star George Reeves in Hollywoodland, will be the new Batman for the film, which opens worldwide on July 15, 2015.

“Ben provides an interesting counter-balance to Henry’s Superman,” Snyder said in a statement. “He 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 retain the charm that the world sees in billionaire Bruce Wayne. I can’t wait to work with him.”

“We knew we needed an extraordinary actor to take on one of DC Comics’ most enduringly popular Super Heroes, and Ben Affleck certainly fits that bill, and then some,” Greg Silverman, Warner Bros’ President of Creative Development and Worldwide Production, added. “His outstanding career is a testament to his talent, and we know he and Zack will bring new dimension to the duality of this character.”