Affleck and Simmons build bonds

LOS ANGELES — Ben Affleck has been thinking about J.K. Simmons a lot lately.

The two are promoting their new film “The Accountant ” together as Affleck puts the finishing touches on his script for “The Batman,” in which Simmons will play Commissioner Gordon opposite Affleck’s Batman. The two also play the same characters in “Justice League,” which just completed filming and will be released next year.

“He’s in my head every night as I fool around with that character and hold his fate in my hands,” Affleck said.

The two Oscar winners bonded over their kids, sports and hosting “Saturday Night Live” while making “The Accountant,” and the rapport they developed set them up for their roles in “Justice League,” “The Batman” and beyond.

“You become more comfortable with somebody,” Affleck said. “I respected his work, and then to get to meet him and find out he’s such a great, down-to-earth, cool guy just means that when you show up on the next job, you know ahead of time (that) this will be fun. We’ll have a good time.”

Knowing Affleck made taking on the Gordon role more comfortable, Simmons said.

“Joining that universe and recreating an iconic character that some wonderful actors have played before, so it was an intimidating enough process,” he said.

“One of the things that’s interesting about Gordon and Batman as Bruce Wayne is they are approaching the same problem from opposite sides of the fence and they have a unique affinity and empathy and appreciation for one another,” Affleck said. “Although they do the same thing in almost diametrically opposed ways, they have a symbiotic relationship and I think, over the years, a genuine friendship.”