Warner's Next Solo Batman Film Coming In 2019?

One of the biggest surprises that came out of the supposed Warner movie schedule leak was that in their mooted slate up to 2018, there was no stand-alone project for Batman among the supposedly lesser projects. And we might now have an answer for why, as a rumour - and it's foolish at this stage to count as anything else - has emerged that suggests that Warner and DC are set to release a solo Batman project in 2019. After putting out Batman Vs Superman, Justice League, Flash/Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, and Shazam movies, this line of thinking, which comes from Latino Review, says that DC will turn their attention back to Gotham for The Batman. It may be somewhat wishful thinking at this stage, but a stand-alone Batman movie in 2019 does make sense, particularly if the DCU is shaping up as expected, not least because it gives Warners enough time to do the project justice and let some more water under the bridge after Christopher Nolan's trilogy. And then of course there's the film obligations of the likely star Ben Affleck, who has Batman Vs Superman, and his own project Live By Night, as well as the potential Justice League movie in the works. Hopefully, the schedule will mean that Affleck can then take two years working on the story for The Batman, which he should be given the opportunity to direct (provided Batman Vs Superman and Justice League don't tank). It was always an inevitability that Warner would unveil a new Batman project: he is Warner Bros and DC's flagship brand, and though the prospect of following Nolan's franchise was a difficult prospect in itself, leaving further avenues unexplored on the back of success makes little sense. With just under five years to come before the rumoured release date, that should give the film-makers the right sort of time to make sure they do justice to what remains the corner-stone of the potential DCU. Do you think Warner Bros. would be right to release The Batman in 2019? Should Ben Affleck be the man in charge of the project? Share your thoughts on this news below in the comments thread.