The Batman: 8 Reasons You Should Be Concerned Affleck Quit
2. He Changed His Mind Worryingly Quickly
Think about the way Forbes talked about the rumours that there was some unrest in the movie's development back in October...
"You can also ignore articles suggesting Affleck might not make the film after all, or that he's somehow less than officially attached as star, cowriter, and director. Unless some unforeseen event makes it impossible for Affleck to make the movie, The Batman will indeed star Affleck in the title role while he also sits in the director's chair to bring his screenplay to life. This is all official, and has been announced by the studio and the actor himself."
Officially announced there felt like an edict - not just a bit of news information, but also a major foundation that the whole project was being built on. It didn't matter that there wasn't a script, Affleck was still involved. It didn't matter there was no title, Affleck was still involved. It became almost a mantra similar to the catch-all "because he's Batman" used to deflect all pesky narrative questions.
Even recently, Affleck himself responded to the rumours of hold-ups quite angrily, suggesting he was pissed at being endlessly asked and the situation had not changed...
“Oh my God, it’s such a pain in the ass. It’s like every time I mention Batman it gets this huge clickbait. When I was doing this movie it took me two years to get it together, but nobody ever asked me, ‘Where’s Live By Night?’ You know? They ask me ‘Batman, Batman, Batman.’ Batman’s coming along, it’s going to be great. We’re going to make something really special. We’re going to take the time to make it right. We’re going to do it good.”
That was less than a month ago. What's changed? What monumental thing has derailed a director who publicly said it's coming along is going to be great in such a short space of time? If it's simply that he has other things to work on, then Warner Bros need to sort out their bloody priorities and make sure he has no bigger jobs to get in the way. It's Batman, for God's sake.