New details about Ben Affleck's planned version of The Batman tease an action-filled spy film with a number of familiar faces.
The Batman director Matt Reeves spoke to Entertainment Weekly for the magazine's big piece on the upcoming film. Along with speaking to stars Robert Pattinson and Zoë Kravitz, Reeves was asked about his approach to the reboot and how it mutated from a vehicle starring and directed by Ben Affleck, the DCEU's former Batman. The original film, according to Reeves, was an "action-based James Bondian" outing, firmly set in the DC Extended Universe and featuring appearances by "other big superheroes."
Following his time as the Dark Knight in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League, Affleck was all set to put on the cape and cowl once again for The Batman. The actor would've also stepped behind the camera to direct and even co-wrote a script with Geoff Johns (Stargirl) and Chris Terrio (Justice League). Reeves read that script when he was brought aboard the film following Affleck stepping down from directing duties, with the plan still being for the actor to star in the film.
"It was a totally valid take on the story," Reeves said of the original script. "I just felt that I was not going to be their guy because having read it, I thought, 'Wow, I don't know if I can find my emotional way into this version.' Not to say it wasn't good, but I wouldn't have known where to put the camera, what to tell the actors because I have to find some way to make it personal to me."
Eventually, Affleck walked away from Batman -- at least for a time -- and Warner Bros. and Reeves began hunting for a new star and story. Pattinson was cast in the lead role, and Reeves and Peter Craig crafted a new script set two years into Bruce Wayne's exploits as the Caped Crusader. The Batman is not set in the DCEU, something Reeves was adamant about, meaning it bears no traces of Affleck's version of the film. Instead, it will kick off a whole new Dark Knight universe, with HBO Max planning several Batman spinoff shows.
Of course, Affleck isn't done with the character. The Flash will feature Affleck as Batman once again, and the film will also see Michael Keaton suit up before starring in Batgirl. Both projects are set in the DCEU, though it's likely the Scarlet Speedster's outing will change things considerably when it introduces the DC's cinematic take on the multiverse.
The Batman arrives March 4 in theaters.
Source: Entertainment Weekly