( CNN ) -- The last time Ben Affleck played a superhero , the world cried . The year was 2003 , and the movie was `` Daredevil '' -- a Hollywood fail that even Affleck has insinuated he 'd rather forget . So is it any wonder that within hours of Warner Bros. announcing the actor was going to play Batman in the upcoming `` Man of Steel '' sequel , Twitter immediately tried to recast the part using the hashtag # BetterBatmanThanBenAffleck . ( Suggestions have included `` the drunken hobo who lives under the overpass , '' the dog from `` Air Bud '' and `` Manti Te ' o 's girlfriend . '' ) But in the eyes of some critics , the 41-year-old Oscar winner may not be such a bad choice . Let 's not forget that Affleck has turned a career corner since his `` annus horribilis '' -- the year that sparked `` Daredevil '' and that other movie that had film fans writing him off , `` Gigli . '' He recovered from that valley slowly but surely , and went on to direct and star in standouts like 2010 's `` The Town '' and 2012 's `` Argo , '' the latter of which won an Oscar for best picture . From actor to auteur : Ben Affleck 's career trajectory . Knowing that , Yahoo ! Movies thinks `` we owe Ben the benefit of the doubt '' given that `` the guy has made quite the comeback lately . '' And there 's also the possibility that he 's learned from his mistakes with `` Daredevil '' -- the faults of which , notes CraveOnline , do n't rest completely on Affleck 's shoulders . Now that he 's an older , more seasoned actor who 's shown himself to be a wizard in the director 's chair , maybe `` Man of Steel 2 '' director Zack Snyder 's assessment is n't so far off : . `` Ben provides an interesting counter-balance to Henry ( Cavill ) '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 . '' If anything , says The Wall Street Journal , Affleck is `` too perfect for the role . '' `` He has it all , '' says WSJ 's Michael Calia . `` The shoulder-heavy jock 's physique , the chiseled facial features set to brood , the experience playing a tough but haunted leading character . It 's yet another example of competent and professional , if uninspired , Batman casting . ... ( It 's ) better than Hollywood forcing another nondescript young hunk on us . '' Film School Rejects disagrees with those who call the decision ho-hum , arguing that `` Affleck as Batman in 'Man of Steel 2 ' is actually some pretty exciting casting news . ... ( A ) fter more than a year of rumors and speculation that he would be directing their Justice League ensemble ( movie ) and/or possibly playing the Caped Crusader in it , this seems to be an equally interesting announcement . '' Affleck as Batman ? 'No , nyet , never ! ' From the perspective of the studio , Warner Bros. ( which shares a parent company with CNN ) , Affleck 's casting is `` a major win , '' The Wrap says . The move not only shows that the now-back-on-top star `` still has faith in the studio , '' but it also paves the way `` for several potential superhero collaborations . '' That idea is probably making several Bruce Wayne fans cringe as they hurry to sign a petition begging Warner Bros. to drop Affleck from the role . But maybe , just maybe , Affleck wo n't be as horrible as everyone is anticipating . After all , he 's proven us wrong before .
Casting of Ben Affleck as Batman has received immense backlash . Some industry observers say it 's not such a bad idea . He 's had a career ever since he starred in 2003 's ` ` . ''