Ben Affleck described his experience working on the 2017 film “Justice League” as a significant low point in his career, citing a confluence of personal difficulties, a studio at odds with the filmmaker, and the tragic death of director Zack Snyder’s daughter.

Affleck, who played Batman in the film, shared his perspective during a recent appearance on the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast. He explained that the production was “so, so negative for lots of different reasons,” including his own personal struggles at the time and the unforeseen tragedy that struck Snyder’s family.

“The truth is, the experience of ‘Justice League’ for me was so, so negative for lots of different reasons,” Affleck said. “Some of which having to do with where I was personally, some of which having to do with the tragedy that happened during the time. And also the fact that I really saw how not to make a movie like that ... when the studio is at odds with the filmmaker. You’re really making a mistake. That was what really doomed that.”

Zack Snyder, the original director, stepped away from the film following the death of his daughter. Warner Bros. subsequently brought in Joss Whedon to complete the project, which involved significant reshoots.

Affleck characterized the reshoot period as particularly difficult. “Boy, that was shitty,” he stated. “Him being taken off that movie, and the reshoots that we did — if you want the low point of my career, it was that.” He also expressed dismay at how the circumstances surrounding Snyder’s departure were handled, calling it “one of the shittiest things I’ve ever seen.”

Despite the difficult production, Affleck expressed happiness that Snyder was eventually able to release his own cut of the film in 2021. “He manipulated his way into getting his thing released, which was fucking great,” Affleck said. “I was really happy for him.”

This is not the first time Affleck has spoken about the challenges of “Justice League.” In a 2025 interview with British GQ, he described the experience as “excruciating” and attributed it to a misalignment of agendas and expectations. He also indicated a lack of interest in revisiting the superhero genre, not due to the negative experience, but a personal loss of interest in the subject matter. “I certainly wouldn’t want to replicate an experience like that,” he told the publication.