Ben Affleck could lose Batman role due to rehab stint, experts say

Ben Affleck may lose his role as Batman. Photo / Getty Images

Actor Ben Affleck could lose his starring role as Batman in the DC Universe due to his stint in rehab, according to The Wrap.

A spokesperson for a completion bond company told the publication Affleck could lose his role as the cost of insuring him for the film will be too high.

Affleck checked himself into rehab last week after an intervention from his ex-wife, Jennifer Garner.

He is currently due to reprise his role in Warner Bros' upcoming solo vehicle The Batman.

"More than likely the studio will replace him because the insurance costs are going to go through the roof," said the spokesperson.

"He would be bondable, but the deductible would be really high, probably the budget of the film."

The insider added that insurers might only demand half the film's budget be set aside as a deductible - which still adds up to a significant amount, considering the budget of Affleck's last film as Batman, Justice League, was around US$300 million.

As The Wrap reports, Affleck would not be the first star to lose out on roles due to personal issues. Iron Man star Robert Downey Jr. faced similar issues in the late 90s and early 2000s due to his past substance abuse.

Mark Burg, producer of the 1998 film The Gingerbread Man, told the Los Angeles Times Downey's insurance premium would have cost $1 million against the film's budget of $30 million.

Burg said the film was shot without insurance.