Ben Affleck Reveals What He Learned From Viral #SadBatman Meme (Video)

Ben Affleck appeared on BBC Radio Tuesday to promote his new movie, 1920s crime drama “Live By Night” — and also let fans know he’s well aware of his starring role in the “Sad Affleck” internet meme that took over the internet.

In response to a question from BBC film critic Ali Plumb asking what he learned as a director and actor from starring in Warner Bros. superhero movie “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” Affleck mentioned his appearance in an interview alongside co-star Henry Cavill, which went viral on account of Affleck’s solemn look.

“It taught me not to do interviews with Henry Cavill where I don’t say anything and they can lay Simon & Garfunkel tracks over it,” Affleck told Plumb. “That’s one thing I learned.”

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The BBC video then immediately cut to the #SadBatman meme, featuring Affleck looking pensive while Cavill responds to a question about “Batman v Superman’s” mixed reviews — of course, with Simon & Garfunkel’s “The Sound of Silence” overlaid for dramatic effect.

After his initial joke, Affleck answered Plumb’s question for real.

“I learned a ton, actually, making that movie,” he said. “I had not made a movie of that scale. I didn’t know what the technology was capable of doing nowadays. The last big blockbustery movie I made was ‘Armageddon,’ which was in 1997.”

Affleck will star and direct in a standalone Batman movie, which is set to hit theaters in 2018.

“Live by Night,” based on the bestselling novel by Dennis Lehane, is currently in theaters.

Relive some of the best #SadBatman memes below.

#SadBatman just watched #BatmanvSuperman pic.twitter.com/Fn2YizC8MK

— Milk the Franchise (@MilkTheFranchis) March 25, 2016

#BatmanDay yeeeii.. Not so happy.. #SadBatman pic.twitter.com/IbwAlKxli2

— Not A Jedi (@NotAJediDJ) September 26, 2015

Oh wow this is funny. Poor @BenAffleck – https://t.co/6rBgTETHku #BatmanvSuperman pic.twitter.com/ScYA0sshxE

— Erik Richison (@erikrichison) March 25, 2016

#SadBatman 🙁 #GwenAndPeter #ValentinesIsComing #ValentinesDay pic.twitter.com/FNOzR5bJjL

— Destry Lee Arender (@DLA_91) February 9, 2016

Jingle Bells. Robin has his own set of problems. #SadBatman pic.twitter.com/rgbPTJnPvE

— Donna Standridge (@saphoros) December 8, 2015

Oh no, looks like Batman left his wallet at the Batcave again… #sadbatman https://t.co/zoH8cntJYN pic.twitter.com/SQHbphxvDc

— Chris Berseth (@ChrisBerseth) November 2, 2015

Ben Affleck's 'The Batman': 12 DC Villains Who Could Hire Deathstroke (Photos)

Joe Manganiello is set to play mercenary for hire Slade Wilson, a.k.a. Deathstroke, in Ben Affleck's upcoming standalone movie "The Batman." But what villain will hire Wilson to put down Bruce Wayne? We came up with 12 possibilities.
Evolution: The Cutting-Edge Guide to Breaking Down Mental Walls and Building the Body You've Always Wanted.
12. Black Mask

Roman Sionis, a former business executive who originally hated Bruce Wayne rather than Batman, wears a black wooden mask and leads the cult-like society of False Facers. Black Mask eventually became a mob boss controlling large sections of Gotham City's criminal underworld. In the Arkham video game series, Black Mask hires Deathstroke to take out Batman.
DC Comics
11. Lex Luthor

Lex Luthor tried to get Superman to fight Batman in "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" and was paid a visit by Batman when Lex was jailed at the end of the film. Could Lex seek revenge by hiring Deathstroke?
Warner Bros
10 Mystery Bad Guy Created for Movie

Could a new villain be created specifically for the movie or an amalgamation of existing DC characters as in "Batman Begins?" That is always a possibility.
9. The Joker

Batman's biggest foe has every reason to hire Deathstroke. In the Arkham video games, Joker placed a $50 million bounty on the Dark Knight's head and hired eight of the world's most deadliest assassins to take him down.
Warner Bros
8. Hush

Hush is the childhood best friend of Bruce Wayne, who grew up to become one of Batman's greatest enemies. He seeks to ruin Bruce's life on every level, and frequently uses other members of Batman's rogues gallery in his elaborate schemes.
DC Comics
7. Harvey "Two Face" Dent

Harvey Dent was the District Attorney of Gotham City, and a close ally of Batman until a mob boss threw acidic chemicals at him during a trial, hideously scarring the left side of his face and driving him insane.
DC Comics
6. Amanda Waller

The mid-credits scene of "Suicide Squad" hinted that Waller knew Bruce Wayne's secret identity as The Batman. Wayne tells Waller to shut down the Suicide Squad or he and his friends (a.k.a. the Justice League) will do it for her. She may have taken that threat seriously.
Warner Bros
5. Carmine Falcone

Carmine Falcone was one of the truly great crime lords of Gotham, back when it was a mafia-run town. At one point in the comics, Batman invaded Falcone's personal bedroom, assaulted him, stripped him to his underwear, and left him hogtied to his bed. Humiliated, Falcone ordered Batman killed.
DC Comics
4. Sal Maroni

Salvatore "The Boss" Maroni is a leader of organized crime in Gotham City and responsible for throwing acid at DA Harvey Dent and turning him into Two-Face. Just the kind of mob boss who would want Batman out of the way.
DC Comics
3. Red Hood

Could Jason Todd, the former Robin whose costume was seen in "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice," return as the Red Hood as he did in the comics -- seeking revenge on Batman for allowing the Joker to live?
DC Comics
2. Poison Ivy

Dr. Pamela Lillian Isley, a.k.a. Poison Ivy, is one of the world's most prominent eco-terrorists. She has a kind of obsession with Batman after she is incarcerated in Arkham Asylum for the Criminally Insane.
DC Comics
1. Rupert Thorne

Thorne is the prominent head of one of Gotham City's top smuggling gangs. A fan favorite from "Batman: The Animated Series" who once hired Bane to take out the Batman. Deathstroke is right up Thorne's alley as the kind of mercenary whom Thorne would hire.
DC Animated
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Deathstroke is confirmed to be the villain in new movie, but who hired the master assassin to take out Bruce Wayne?

Joe Manganiello is set to play mercenary for hire Slade Wilson, a.k.a. Deathstroke, in Ben Affleck's upcoming standalone movie "The Batman." But what villain will hire Wilson to put down Bruce Wayne? We came up with 12 possibilities.

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