Among the many movies in development for Warner Bros’ DC Universe is Matt Reeves’ solo Batman flick, which has finally started coming together. For instance, the script is accounted for by the writer/director, with casting reportedly moving forward soon. The question on everyone’s minds is who will answer the Bat Signal and play the Caped Crusader in the film?
In a recent interview, Matt Reeves updated fans on the status of the project, explaining the casting process will soon begin, after he puts the finishing touches on the script. But he didn’t say a word regarding if Ben Affleck will be reprising his Justice League role, or if they’d be going in a different direction.
When The Batman was first being developed at Warner Bros, Ben Affleck had quite a stake in the project as he was attached to write, direct and star in the film. After he took a reduced role int eh blockbuster and Matt Reeves took over as writer/director, the question of whether Affleck would be continuing to play Batman has been floating in the air.
Ben Affleck’s recent time in rehab to focus his efforts on recovering from his alcohol addiction could certainly be playing a part in the actor and studio’s silence about the future of his Batman role. On the other hand, Affleck’s involvement with the DCEU have not been blockbuster and critical successes. Both Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League didn’t leave a strong impression on audiences, despite the actor's strong performance.
Since their releases, the studio seems to moving away from building upon those particular movies. Apart from Wonder Woman and Aquaman, the upcoming DCEU slate includes a completely new set of heroes.
That’s not to say this had much to do with Ben Affleck’s performance as Bruce Wayne/Batman in these films. In fact, many fans were pleasantly surprised about how perfect the actor was as the iconic character, and are hoping to see him take on the hero in a film of his own. The actor may no longer share the same interest, especially since he exited developing his Batman project.
In Matt Reeves update to The Hollywood Reporter, he said he is hoping for a 2021 release date for his film, which he describes as a “noir Batman tale” that will show the character in “detective mode” more than ever seen in other film iterations. The Batman will have a Rogue Gallery of villains, reportedly including The Penguin.
Considering the current direction of the DCEU, Ben Affleck doesn’t have to reprise his role of Batman for it all to work. The shuffling of actors under the mask of the Bat was common throughout the ‘90s.
As The Batman moves forward this year, it will certainly soon become clear about whether Ben Affleck has a place as the Dark Knight. Until then, there are some exciting DCEU releases coming up in 2019, including Shazam! on April 5 and Joker on October 4.
