Ben Affleck drops out of directing 'The Batman', shortlist of directors includes Denis Villeneuve and George Miller among others

Image from Warner Bros.

By Darian Scalamoni

            Oh boy, well the DC Extended Universe is facing serious issues between the backlash of their last two films, Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad, but to make matters worse, The Flash has lost a third(!) director and is now getting a complete re-write that might limit it from hitting its previously scheduled release date. That’s not all, as multiple outlets have reported that Ben Affleck, who plays Batman in the current DCEU, has dropped out of The Batman project as a director. He still plans to produce, star and possibly help write the solo Batman effort but these are truly troubled waters that they’re sailing down now.

            Affleck has been an established director for about ten years now after his first three directorial efforts (Gone Baby Gone, The Town, Argo) were deemed as critically and universally beloved before his last film, Live by Night, tanked. Argo managed to win Best Picture at the Oscars though and he’s still incredibly well-regarded behind the camera but he has decided to focus more on his on-screen presence for the upcoming Batman flick and Warner Bros. has opened the floodgates and contacted a multitude of directors to direct instead.

            The shortlist reported by The Playlist includes Matt Reeves, Gavin O’Connor, Denis Villeneuve, Matt Ross and George Miller. The slew of directors all have experience in all different types of films but the favorite at this time seems to be Gavin O’Connor, who just directed Affleck in The Accountant that was released last year. However, O’Connor is signed on to The Green Hornet reboot as well as a movie called Father Daughter Time in which Matt Damon was originally supposed to direct. If the scheduling works out though, I could see Warner Bros. keeping it with someone they know well who has worked with Affleck previously.

            The two no-brainers of the list have to be Denis Villeneuve and George Miller. Villeneuve is hot on the heels of an Oscar nomination for Best Director for his work on last year’s sci-fi hit, Arrival and has the upcoming sequel to cult sci-fi hit, Blade Runner 2049 releasing later this year. Miller was previously set to make Justice League: Mortal years ago before it fell apart so he would make sense to helm a Batman movie as well possibly before directing the sequel to his 2015 blockbuster, Mad Max: Fury Road.

              The two surprising choices on the list include Matt Reeves who has experience with blockbusters with his Planet of the Apes franchise but then there’s Matt Ross, who just directed the indie hit, Captain Fantastic and has no tentpole experience yet. Warner Bros. could go this route similar to what Marvel has done hiring smaller directors to direct bigger projects (i.e. James Gunn and The Russo brothers).

            Hopefully they can make a decision soon as the movie is expected to start filming this Spring and that would be impossible without a director. Also, that 2018 release date is looking very much in question but until then we know that Affleck will star as the titular Gotham City hero along with appearances from Jeremy Irons, J.K. Simmons and Joe Manganiello as Alfred, Commissioner Gordon and the villainous, Deathstroke respectively.