Ben Affleck and DC Entertainment's Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns are reportedly deep in development mode, co-writing a standalone Batman film, with Affleck also slated to star and direct.

The Deadline report states that the pair are "well in synch and have more than found their rhythm" in developing the long rumored solo film. Affleck would shoot the Batman solo film once he wraps production on "Live by Night," a movie he has already delayed once in order to don the Dark Knight's cowl in "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice."

The movie will take place following the events of "Batman v Superman" and "Justice League," meaning the film won't be in theaters until 2018 at the earliest. That said, the report indicates that the importance of the character to Warner Bros. may alter some of the studio's announced plans for its slate of DC films.

"Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" opens on March 25, 2016; "Justice League" is scheduled to arrive November 17, 2017.