Ben Affleck on Why Daredevil (2003) Failed & Its Impact on The Punisher

by

Reflecting on the triumph of “Daredevil: Born Again,” Ben Affleck revisited his portrayal of the main character from 2003’s movie, which received lukewarm reception in cinemas. While some viewers have grown fonder of the film over time, “Daredevil” is generally viewed as a significant miss, and Affleck acknowledges this himself.

During a recent interview for, Affleck looked back at his time working on Daredevil. He recalled that, being an ardent admirer of the character’s saga from Marvel comics, he was excited to be part of the movie because he believed Daredevil had tremendous potential. The talented individuals he would collaborate with on the project ultimately convinced him to take on the role. However, Affleck admitted that the film failed to meet its promise, as he agreed it didn’t reach the quality it should have.

Affleck expressed his fondness for the comic book, stating, “I enjoyed collaborating with Michael Clarke Duncan, Colin Farrell, and Jennifer Garner. Unfortunately, I felt that the adaptation didn’t fully live up to its potential, which was a letdown.

In a more current interview about the same topic, Affleck elaborated on his experience playing Daredevil. He mentioned that it was challenging for the creators to strike the perfect balance in tone since the Marvel Cinematic Universe hadn’t yet started at that time. Although Daredevil didn’t meet expectations, Affleck remains pleased because the movie paved the way for his Accountant 2 co-star, Jon Bernthal, to excel with his portrayal of The Punisher.

He explained that before Kevin Feige took over as Marvel’s head, there was a lack of consistency in tone across the movies. Feige then brought about a balance between the seriousness, humor, self-awareness, and action sequences in these films – a challenging task given their unique elements such as characters wearing costumes resembling pajamas and possessing superpowers.

Did Daredevil (2003) Pave the Way for Jon Bernthal’s Punisher?

Affleck went on to say, “This happened at a time when visual effects were becoming highly convincing. It opened up opportunities for talented actors like Bernthal to excel… A new Daredevil is coming in Daredevil: Born Again, starring Charlie Cox. I haven’t had the chance to watch it yet, but I’m a fan of the character. I hope it does well… However, I wouldn’t want to face Bernthal’s Punisher.

Currently, “Daredevil: Born Again” is available for streaming on Disney+, with a follow-up season already being worked on following the overwhelming success of the initial installment.

Read More

2025-04-21 02:17