Unless you have been living under a rock, you are well aware of the questions and concerns surrounding The Batman. While the upcoming Justice League film may be more important to the overall success of the DC Extended Universe (DCEU), The Batman is probably the more anticipated film.
Ben Affleck
It is well known that Ben Affleck is no longer directing the film. That is a bummer on many levels, but mainly because he is an excellent director, with Argo, Gone Baby Gone and The Town being his finest works. But even before he stepped down as director, Affleck expressed concerns with Warner Brothers executives’ involvement. That is a major cause for concern.
Matt Reeves
The bad news of Affleck ceding his directorial role was quickly softened when it was announced that the more-than-capable Matt Reeves was slated to helm the film. Although this is his first comic book movie entry, very few directors today can match his recent space of fantasy/sci-fi films. The filmography includes: Cloverfield (2008), Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014), and the upcoming War of the Planet of the Apes (2017).
There was a little drama when it was prematurely announced that, he too, had walked away from the movie. However, the panic was abated once he officially signed to direct The Batman late last week.
What This All Means for The Batman?
The DCEU has gotten off to a somewhat rocky start. The films have done pretty well at the box office but they have been polarizing among comic book fans, movie critics and casual moviegoers. I still find Man of Steel (MOS) to be the best of the bunch so far. Unlike it’s glossier successors, Batman v Superman and Suicide Squad, MOS had a clear vision and far less production problems than the latter two.
With two potential Flash directors walking away from that project, to the Affleck “directorial defection,” and the back-and-forth act by Matt Reeves, confidence is not exactly being instilled.
However, like the logo on Superman’s chest states, HOPE springs eternal for the DCEU. In a word (two to be exact), I say Matt Reeves. He may just be the hero that the DCEU needs to save The Batman.
