Good morning movie fans: We awake today to a major casting announcement. Zack Snyder, director of upcoming super-sequel Man of Steel 2, has decided Ben Affleck is stepping into the cape of Batman. Variety broke the news earlier this morning, although Affleck has experienced the pressures of spandex before (as Marvel’s Daredevil) he wasn’t the recipient of much praise from either fans or critics as the film was a financial and critical dud.

Given the recent trend of over-blown press conferences to announce pop-culture icons, a small press release combined with Affleck’s new found directorial passion, perhaps suggest Warner are preparing for a fan-backlash. Despite being left with big shoes to fill following Christian Bale‘s definitive take on the World’s Greatest Detective, Affleck could be a genius bit of casting even if the fan-boys make take a while to accept. Following his years in the Hollywood wilderness, after Armageddon, Gigli and Ben-nifer, one sincerely hopes that Ben Affleck’s momentous comeback isn’t about to be unravelled by his return to blockbusters.

Snyder has stated, “Ben provides an interesting counter-balance to Henry (Cavill)’s Superman. 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,”

One imagines Ben Affleck is now sitting at his computer with Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes checking message boards for fan feedback.