Ben Affleck is the new Bruce Wayne.

Warner Bros. has announced that Affleck will star as Batman in the upcoming 'Man of Steel' sequel. Affleck will star alongside British actor Henry Cavill, 31, who played Superman in the first 'Man of Steel' installment. Amy Adams, Diane Lane and Laurence Fishburne will also reprise their roles for the sequel, which is set to be released Jul. 17, 2015.

"We knew we needed an extraordinary actor to take on one of DC Comics' most enduringly popular superheroes, and Ben Affleck certainly fits that bill and then some," Warner Bros. president Greg Silverman said in the announcement.

'Steel' director Zack Snyder first revealed the plan for a Batman-Superman sequel at the San Diego International Comic-Con last month.

Snyder said that Affleck's Dark Knight will give an "interesting counterbalance" to Cavill's Clark Kent. "He has the acting chops to create a layered portrayal of a man who is older and wiser than Clark Kent and bears the scars of a seasoned crime fighter, but retain the charm that the world sees in billionaire Bruce Wayne," Snyder said of Affleck in a statement. "I can't wait to work with him."

Production of the untitled sequel is set to begin in 2014, according to CBS News.

This isn't the first time the 41-year-old Affleck has delved into superhero territory. He starred in 2003's underwhelming 'Daredevil,' and portrayed 1950s TV Superman George Reeves in 2006's 'Hollywoodland.'

Affleck has also taken a turn as a director for 'The Town' and most recently 'Argo,' which won an Academy Award for best picture back in February.

When the news of Affleck's Batman casting was announced, social media exploded with many criticizing and joking about the decision.  "Presumably, the nemesis to Ben Affleck's Batman will be the script for Gigli," @NickMotown tweeted.

Comedian Patton Oswalt took to Twitter, joking that Batman will now have a strong Boston accent. 

According to the New York Post, the 'Dark Knight' trilogy Christian Bale turned down $50 million to reprise his role for the sequel. Others who have previously portrayed the Caped Crusader include Michael Keaton, George Clooney and Val Kilmer. 

What do you think of Affleck as the new Batman? Let us know in the comment section.