10 Ways Joker's Origin Movie Could Completely Change The DCEU

by Ewan Paterson

1. Bat-Fleck No More

Ben Affleck Batman
Warner Bros.

While The Batman may not drop until 2019 at the earliest, the film has dominated DC conversation for the past few months, particularly in relation to whether or not the film's lead - Oscar winner Ben Affleck - will be reprising his role as the Caped Crusader for it.

While we're yet to get a solid confirmation as to whether Affleck is signed on for the film (WB are remaining remarkably coy regarding the matter), it's likely that there are frank discussions taking place in pre-production regarding the matter. Affleck, while a prime candidate for the role, didn't take to it as well as audiences were expecting in Batman v Superman. A lot of that was down to the film's writing - true - but, if it is the case that The Batman is experiencing developmental issues, and that Affleck is unsettled in the role, then news of this Joker feature could take on a whole new meaning in itself.

We're not saying that Affleck's Batman isn't long for this world, nor that The Batman - a project literally bursting at the seams with talent - is in development Hell. Such rumours afflicted Patty Jenkins Wonder Woman flick and well, it's obvious that they didn't.

But, if the development process is going through issues - and Affleck in particular is central to them - then it could be the case that this Joker film has been green-lit as a direct response. If not, then regardless, it opens up the possibility for a multiverse without Bat-fleck, and for a younger, less cynical Batman to enter the scene.

Warner Bros.' superhero strategy continues to confuse, but that doesn't mean it's without its own potential. Indeed, if they can make things work - and have both stand-alone and interconnected features in their line-up - then more power to them. After all, it could just be a crisis in waiting.

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Are you excited by the prospect of a return to superhero stand-alone films? Feel like WB's strategy is sort of muddled? Post your thoughts in the comments below!

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Content Producer/Presenter

WhatCulture's very own resident movie guy, Ewan has been working in the content creation biz for over 10 years now, having started as a freelance contributor to WhatCulture Gaming all the way back in 2015. After graduating with a First-Class Honours in History from Northumbria University in 2017 (where he won a prize for a totally killer dissertation on the Watergate years), Ewan took on the role of Comics Editor at WhatCulture and quickly developed WhatCulture Comics into one of the biggest superhero-focused channels on YouTube. He followed this with a brief hiatus at Screen Rant in 2021, where he worked across the Gaming and Film sections as a writer and editor, before returning to WhatCulture as a Senior Content Producer / Presenter in 2023. He started his own podcast, We Love Dad Movies, in 2022, and has contributed several written pieces to the Eisner-nominated comics website Shelfdust as well. In his current role, Ewan incorporates his love of cinema, comic books, and history into written pieces and video essays for WhatCulture's Film & TV channel, as well as WhatCulture Gaming and WhatCulture Horror, with a particular focus on nineties-era Dad Movies, old school Westerns, and Golden Age Hollywood Noir. John Carpenter is his fave, and he thinks Batman Beyond should never have been cancelled. If that's your vibe, you'll probably like his stuff.