Ben Affleck Steps Down as Director for New BATMAN Movie
Ben Affleck has decided to step down as director of
The Batman and remain on as a producer and star of the project.
Affleck is still on board to play the superhero, but sources close to the talent said Affleck and Warner Bros., after discussing how to best make the film possible, came to the decision together.
“There are certain characters who hold a special place in the hearts of millions,” Affleck said in a statement. “Performing this role demands focus, passion and the very best performance I can give. It has become clear that I cannot do both jobs to the level they require. Together with the studio, I have decided to find a partner in a director who will collaborate with me on this massive film. I am still in this, and we are making it, but we are currently looking for a director. I remain extremely committed to this project, and look forward to bringing this to life for fans around the world.”
Affleck and Warner Bros. will now begin searching for a new director. Sources say there is a shortlist and that
War for the Planet of the Apes helmer Matt Reeves is among those on the list.
“Warner Bros. fully supports Ben Affleck’s decision and remains committed to working with him to bring a standalone Batman picture to life,” the studio said a statement.
Affleck has completed work as the Caped Crusader in
Justice League, which opens Nov. 17, and he was preparing to go into prep on the solo
Batman movie this summer. Affleck co-wrote the script with Geoff Johns.
There had been rumblings that Affleck was considering not directing the film during the past month, but in recent weeks sources say the multi-hyphenate came to the decision it was best to let the directing job go and focus on playing the part.
Rumors of Affleck departing the director’s chair have swirled for a couple of months now, when he let on that the project was having script issues during press for
Live by Night, the gangster movie he directed for Warners. The
issues first came to light when author Bret Easton Ellis mentioned them during a November podcast. Affleck and execs have been unhappy regarding the script for weeks, according to sources.
One insider from
THR says that
Live by Night's poor performance caused Affleck to rethink his approach to his projects after that film
bombed recently, having taken in just $18.9 million globally to date.
Ben Affleck Will No Longer Direct 'The Batman' But Will Still Remain as Producer and Star (Exclusive)