Speculation has swirled for more than a year and a half that Ben Affleck is walking away from the role of Batman, making way for a younger Bruce Wayne in director Matt Reeves' solo movie. Although Warner Bros., the filmmaker and Affleck himself have repeatedly sidestepped the question, a new report indicates the actor's return to rehab may effectively make the decision for them.

According to TheWrap, by entering a treatment facility for alcohol addiction last week for the second time since 2017, Affleck may have inadvertently made the price of insuring him on a project like The Batman too costly for the studio.

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It's standard for a big-budget production to be insured against cancellations or delays in the event of problems with a star or director. In the case of Affleck, who previously sought treatment in 2001 and 2017, an anonymous attorney tells the outlet he could still be bondable, but that the deductible could be incredibly high, requiring as much as half the film's entire budget being set aside in escrow.

TheWrap notes it's not entirely uncommon for actors to run into difficulties getting bonded, and points to Robert Downey Jr., who, after stints in rehab and jail, experienced similar problems when it came to 2003's The Singing Detective. In that instance, Downey's friend and co-star paid his insurance bond. The outlet's sources suggests Affleck might need to re-establish himself in the eyes of insurance companies with some smaller-budget independent films before they're feel comfortable enough in bonding him at a more reasonable price.

Although there have been plenty of rumors about The Batman, little information has been confirmed, beyond that it's not based on the "Year One" comic book storyline, and that Affleck is involved at least as a producer.

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