Ben Affleck will play Batman in the 2015 sequel to this year’s "Man of Steel", joining Michael Keaton and George Clooney as the masked hero.

They might retain some individuality but the endless Republican theme is wearing thin.

"Man of Steel" has made $125-million in its opening weekend in the US, lining it up to be the year’s highest-grossing film.

After years of declaring he stood for "truth, justice and the American way", Superman has provoked the ire of rightwingers.