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The Batman: Every Update You Need to Know
The Batman is currently in development under the direction of Matt Reeves after the departure of Ben Affleck as director. The original Affleck script was expected to include Deathstroke as the main villain, but it’s currently unknown what Reeves’ version will be about other than the fact that it will be a hard boiled detective story. After months of uncertainty, it’s not even clear if Affleck will return to the role of the Caped Crusader, but he hasn’t been officially ruled out yet. Rumors have suggested he’ll be replaced by Jake Gyllenhaal, but Gyllenhaal recently denied the rumor.
Release Date: Possibly 2021
Cast: Ben Affleck, Jeremy Irons, J.K. Simmons
Director: Matt Reeves
Writer: Matt Reeves
BEN AFFLECK ISN’T CONFIRMED FOR THE BATMAN
The Batman may star Ben Affleck as Bruce Wayne, aka Batman. There’s a lot of uncertainty surrounding the actor’s involvement. Since early 2017, various reports have indicated that Affleck was planning on exiting the DC Extended Universe (DCEU), which is something that he himself later confirmed. Shortly before Justice League released, Affleck said that he was looking for a way to segue out of his Batman role.
Affleck currently has only one more Batman movie left on his DCEU contract. And since recent reports suggest that Affleck may reprise his role in DC’s Flashpoint movie, it’s possible that he will choose to have that role be his last in the DCEU. If he does appear in that movie and then decides to also appear in The Batman, then he will need to renegotiate and resign his contract with Warner Bros. and DC Films. Until that happens, though, it’s unclear who’s playing The Caped Crusader. Jake Gyllenhaal was reportedly the frontrunner to be Affleck’s replacement, but Gyllenhaal recently shot down that rumor.
THE BATMAN’S SUPPORTING CAST HASN’T BEEN REVEALED
The Batman‘s supporting cast hasn’t been revealed so far, nor are there any indications as to who will appear in the movie aside from Jeremy Irons, who plays Alfred Pennyworth, and J.K. Simmons, who made his debut as Commissioner Gordon in 2017’s Justice League. Although it’s presumed that Commissioner Gordon will appear in The Batman, Simmons has yet to meet Matt Reeves about his role. Considering that the movie’s script is still being worked on, however, this isn’t something to worry about, at least not right away. Given that The Batman will be the character’s first solo in the DCEU movie, plenty of other characters should be introduced in the installment.
THE BATMAN COULD FEATURE DEATHSTROKE AS A VILLAIN
The Batman was originally supposed to feature Deathstroke as the titular villain, played by Joe Manganiello, but that was when the story was being written by Ben Affleck and DC Films co-chief Geoff Johns. Now that Matt Reeves is starting over from scratch, it’s unclear who the villain (or villains) of the movie will be. It’s still possible that Deathstroke will appear following Manganiello’s debut in the Justice League post-credits scene. Other villains that have already been introduced in the DCEU could also potentially show up in The Batman, such as Jared Leto’s The Joker, Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn, and even Will Smith’s Deadshot, though they don’t have to have major parts.
THE BATMAN’S STORY IS BEING REWRITTEN
The Batman doesn’t have a story yet. As previously mentioned, Ben Affleck and Geoff Johns originally co-wrote a draft for the movie, but then Matt Reeves tossed out that script when he came on board in 2017. And now, Reeves has said that he’s starting The Batman‘s story from scratch, which makes sense since he has a history of working intimately with the writers for his movies to make sure everyone is on the same page when production begins. One thing to note, however, is that, The Batman will not be about Jason Todd’s death, it will be a hard-broiled detective story.
