Michael Keaton gives Ben Affleck his blessing for Batman role

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 29 (UPI) -- Former Batman portrayer Michael Keaton says he is confident Ben Affleck will be "great" as the character in Hollywood's next installment in the film franchise.

The 41-yera-old actor's casting as the Caped Crusader in an as-yet-untitled 2015 Batman-Superman movie has been met with mixed reactions from fans and the media since it was announced last week.

But Keaton assured TMZ Wednesday, "He's gonna be great."

Keaton, 61, played the role in 1989's "Batman" and 1992's "Batman Returns."