10 Directors Who Should Helm The Batman (If Affleck Quits)

The Bat-signal is shining, but who's gonna answer the call?

Kevin Smith Batman
Getty/Warner Bros.

The DC Extended Universe can't seem to catch a break.

Just when things began to look shaky after Batman v Superman was destroyed by critics, rumblings of a Ben Affleck-starring solo Batman movie, which would also be written and directed by the actor, started to surface, and would later be confirmed - and fans began to position the project as the DCEU's saving grace.

In December 2016, Affleck mentioned that he was still finishing up the script, but everything was "coming together", and the film was on the right track, ramping up fan excitement even further.

And then, bizarrely, the actor appears to have backtracked on those comments entirely, stating just a few days ago that "there's no script", and if the project doesn't come together in a way he deems appropriate, he's "not going to do it".

And if Affleck does indeed step aside, the film (tentatively titled 'The Batman') will need a guiding hand. This won't be an easy task, for whoever lands the gig - the survival of the DCEU may depend upon the quality of this one movie - but there are plenty of strong contenders who'd be able to give us the quality Batman adventure we deserve.

This in mind, here are ten directors who should be given a stab at the solo Batman movie...

10. David S. Goyer

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Known For: Blade: Trinity, Man Of Steel (writer), The Dark Knight (writer).

David S. Goyer's case for directing The Batman is helped substantially when you realise he had a hand in writing The Dark Knight trilogy, widely regarded as three of the finest comic-book adaptations of all time, as well as Man Of Steel, the film that jump-started the DCEU and set it on its current trajectory - making him the perfect director to carry the universe forward.

Goyer also had a hand in Batman v Superman, so he's very firmly a part of the DC-movie circle and is extremely comfortable when working with the characters within it - including, and especially, Bats himself.

And it's this knowledge that would make him a worthwhile pick. His work on The Dark Knight in particular, and the brutal, grounded Batman story he told in that film, would mesh perfectly with Ben Affleck's take on the character, and the only question is whether or not he'd be able to translate his writing chops directly to the camera.

We're certainly hoping he can.

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Contributor

WhoCulture Channel Manager/Doctor Who Editor at WhatCulture. Can confirm that bow ties are cool.