Ben Affleck is "honored" to be in such great company as he steps into the role of Batman in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.

It's been years in the making, but fans will finally see Affleck in the role of Batman. The actor appeared on the red carpet for the New York premiere of Batman v Superman over the weekend and spoke about following in the footsteps of Christian Bale, Michael Keaton and more.

"I'm really honored to be part of a tradition that Christian Bale and Christopher Nolan, great talents, worked on," Affleck told The Associated Press. "Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney, Tim Burton, great talents. So I just wanted to do my best. I think we did something different, but something that is still very much Batman."

It wasn't easy getting into shape to play Batman, though. He told The AP that the physical aspect of playing the role was the most difficult part about the movie.

"Having to be in the gym every day, six in the morning ... I wasn't used to that kind of workout regimen," Affleck admitted. "Fans have come to expect that if you're going to play a superhero, you got to look in the body like a superhero. I knew the camera was going to be looking at me and the guillotine was there so I knew I had to be ready."

There is a lot riding on the success of Batman v Superman. The film is expected to make at least $150 million in its opening weekend, though some analysts are predicting an even bigger total.

"You can't deny the truth: Batman v. Superman is everything for the DC. The fate of an entire universe literally hangs in the balance. You don't throw down your most iconic characters without going all in. This is break or bust," box-office analyst Jeff Bock told The Hollywood Reporter recently. "My prediction is $180 million."

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is scheduled for release in theaters on Friday.

Tags: Batman vs. Superman Movies