“You don’t do it forever, so I want to find a graceful and cool way to segue out of it,” Ben Affleck recently said about his future as Batman. The fate of his incarnation as Bruce Wayne doesn’t get solved in “Justice League,” though the film’s poor critical response probably isn’t endearing the actor to stick around any longer than he has to. However, as far as Matt Reeves is concerned, Affleck’s participation isn’t what he’s looking for when it comes to his solo Batman venture.
According to Collider’s John Campea, Reeves has another person in mind to wear the cowl for his movie — which might extend into a trilogy — and it ain’t Affleck.
“I’m hesitant to say anything, but I talked to a Hollywood producer yesterday who told me who Matt Reeves wants as Batman. And, I’ll be honest with you, the name they [gave] me caught me a little bit by surprise. I called somebody else later in the day, saying, ‘Hey, I heard this, is there any validity to this?’ And they said, ‘Well, Matt does want him.’ But, that doesn’t mean it’s going to happen. There’s been no movement or anything like that. It doesn’t mean anything’s going to happen,” Campea said, and cautioned.
Again, this is a rumor, so who knows. Secondly, with DC Films planning non-continuity pics, maybe Reeves project will into that category, leaving Affleck free to keep the cowl on as long or as little as he likes. Then again, Reeves has said his Batman is part of the DCEU. Frankly, given the way DC operates, who knows what’ll happen, and in fact, there’s already conflicting reports.
CBR caught up with “Justice League” producer Charles Roven, who said that Affleck and Reeves are working together on that the Batman flick.
“I’m not producing that movie. Matt Reeves is working on that, but I do work with Ben, so I know that he’s certainly planning on starring in that film, but I don’t know what the script is,” he said, adding: “I’m not producing that movie, so I’m probably the wrong guy to ask.”
So once again, DC ducks aren’t quite in a row, so much as scattered all over the place. Hopefully, somebody decides what the heck is going on with Affleck and Batman soon.
Seriously, Reeves and Abrams should just swap franchises.
“Batman” already did the moody, self-serious version with Nolan. What DC seems to want is a more effervescent, Marvel-esque take on their characters. Abrams is much better at that than Reeves, a director whose taste seems to lean dark and atmospheric. You could produce a long list of affirmatives about the work of Matt Reeves but “fun” would not be in the top 10.
On the “Star Wars” side of things, Abrams has already done this gig and while “Force Awakens” was just fine, his second tour isn’t going to inspire the same degree of anticipation as his first. Moving over to “Batman” would allow him to revitalize an entirely new franchise (his expertise) without literally repeating himself. Superheroes are fresh territory him. Futhermore, the “Star Wars” series is operatic by nature and could use a dose of some “Empire Strikes Back” gravitas that was completely lacking from “Force Awakens”. That is much more in Reeves wheelhouse than either Johnson or Abrams.
As it currently stands both directors and franchises are cruising for a bruising, Abrams/Star Wars for repeating themselves and Reeves/Batman for not exceeding the cultural resonance of Nolan’s dark take on the character. Swapping would serve both series and both directors.