Time Warner Inc (TWX), The Walt Disney Company (DIS): Did the DC Movie Machine Just Destroy Batman, Too?

Fans may be overreacting to the news that Time Warner Inc (NYSE:TWX) has hired actor Ben Affleck to play Batman in the next big DC movie, Fool contributor Tim Beyers argues in the following video.

Due in theaters in July 2015, there’s plenty riding on director Zack Snyder’s untitled Man of Steel sequel. Not only will it mark the first time Batman and Superman have appeared together on the big screen, but it’s also an ambitious attempt at creating a wider DC movie universe akin to what Marvel and The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) already have in the Avengers franchise.

How ambitious? Time Warner Inc (NYSE:TWX) has parted ways with Legendary Pictures, which means each new DC movie will be 100% funded in-house, making successes more rewarding and failures more painful.

Predicting how well Man of Steel 2 will do is impossible at this point. But just as fans were divided by Snyder’s interpretation of the Superman mythos, many are taking to the Web to voice concern over Time Warner Inc (NYSE:TWX)’s choice to have Affleck play Batman.

They remember Daredevil, a 2003 stinker from Twenty-First Century Fox Inc (NASDAQ:FOX) that displeased fans despite a decent run at the box office. (The rights to that character have since returned to Marvel and The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS).)

For its part, Time Warner Inc (NYSE:TWX)’s press release says Affleck has the acting chops to play a “seasoned crime fighter” who’s older and more experienced than Superman. The message? Even if Snyder pursues a different take on the character, it won’t be a pure reboot of the Batman franchise. That won’t be enough for fans who distrust Affleck. But as both a fan and an investor, Tim says he’s willing to suspend disbelief.

The article Did the DC Movie Machine Just Destroy Batman, Too? originally appeared on Fool.com is written by Tim Beyers.

Fool contributor Tim Beyers is a member of the Motley Fool Rule Breakers stock-picking team and the Motley Fool Supernova Odyssey I mission. He owned shares of Walt Disney and Time Warner at the time of publication. Check out Tim’s Web home and portfolio holdings, or connect with him on Google+, Tumblr, or Twitter, where he goes by @milehighfool. You can also get his insights delivered directly to your RSS reader.The Motley Fool recommends and owns shares of Walt Disney.

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