Matt Damon defends Ben Affleck Batman casting

LOS ANGELES  - Matt Damon has a message to comic book fans who are distraught over the surprise casting of his "Good Will Hunting" pal Ben Affleck as Batman. Relax, he's got this one covered.

"I think it will be great. It will be terrific. I know there are a lot of people grousing on the internet. I just think it's kind of funny," Damon told the Times of India. "You know, he's not playing King Lear. It's Batman! Certainly within his skill set."

 Affleck's decision to follow the Bat signal and team up with Henry Cavill in a big screen blockbuster that will find Bruce Wayne's alter-ego sharing the screen with Superman has set off a wave of online protests. More than 80,000 have signed a petition on Change.org asking for the role to be recast while others have taken to social media platforms like Twitter to voice their displeasure.

 Although Damon expressed enthusiasm for Affleck's casting, he indicated that the part pales in comparison to his recent work.

"If anybody saw 'Argo' or 'The Town,' and all the work he's been doing lately, it's way more nuanced and interesting and way more difficult than Batman!" Damon said. "Batman just sits there with his cowl over his head and whispers in a kinda gruff voice at people."

He's also ruling out a reunion that would find the 42-year old Damon playing a certain boy wonder.

"I am a little older than Ben," Damon said. "I never saw Robin as older than Batman."