The Batman: 10 Latest Developments You Need To Know
An update from the belfry.
The future the DC Extended Universe is more clouded than ever, but Warner Bros is set to continue churning out superhero fodder for the foreseeable future.
The Batman is among the most anticipated films on its slate, yet the Dark Knight's next solo outing is also shrouded by uncertainty, and plagued by boomeranging (or should that be Bataranging?) rumours of lead actor Ben Affleck's departure.
Affleck was once attached to write, direct and star in the movie, but now it's not even guaranteed he will do only the latter, as War for the Planet of the Apes helmer Matt Reeves has been brought in to oversee the project.
Reeves has promised fans a noir-style detective movie with overtones of Alfred Hitchcock, which sounds like a great fit for the Caped Crusader, but with no official release date in sight, The Batman is no more than a twinkle in his eye right now.
Batfleck is already at large in the DCEU, due to appear in Justice League later this year, though Warner appears to be turning its attention away from its cinematic universe. Just this week it was reported that a Joker origin film with no connection to the shared superhero world is in development.
Although many things about The Batman are up in the air, rumours, leaks and official announcements continue to flood in, and here are the pick of the bunch....
10. The Batman Won't Be Part Of The DCEU
Most movies in the DC Extended Universe that aren't called Wonder Woman have been met with - and let's be kind here - a lukewarm reception, which is no doubt why the studio is now looking beyond its connected superhero line.
Matt Reeves has confirmed The Batman isn't part of the DCEU, and that means its version of the Caped Crusader won't be connected to his counterpart in Justice League or Batman v Superman, even if Ben Affleck reprises his role.
During an interview with KCRW, the Apes filmmaker said that his Bat movie will “standalone” and is “not part of the extended universe”.
Some fans believe that Reeves may have been misquoted here, but subsequent reports have backed up the notion of The Batman cutting ties with the DCEU, and word of this standalone Joker film further suggests Warner is taking more of a multiverse approach to its superhero projects going forward.
The director has already shredded Affleck and Geoff Johns‘s original script while cleaning out the belfry, so it's clear the movie will mark a fresh start for Bruce Wayne.