For over a year and a half, Warner Bros. and Ben Affleck have engaged in a bat-and-mouse game centered around the constant questioning regarding the actor's status as Batman. It's all been self-made, really, as both parties can't seem to sing from the same hymn book, contradicting or dodging each other at every turn. It's frustrating for the fans, who just want a definitive answer and to move on from the drama and toward the first solo Bat-film in years.

After Justice League, the general consensus was that Affleck was gone, that Matt Reeves' The Batman would feature a younger actor as the Dark Knight. Yet, here we are, with the latest news from Reeves being that he's still in conversation with Affleck about the film. But is it as an actor? Affleck is still reported to be a producer on the film, so it could be the discussions are in that capacity alone, but really, who's to say? What in the world is actually happening?

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The only people who truly know are Affleck, his reps, Reeves and, most importantly, Warner Bros. Considering the fallout from Justice League, it's understandable why they'd choose to keep quiet for at least a while, but it's a new era, now. The Worlds of DC have replaced the DCEU, and there's a genuine sense of fan excitement about the future of DC Films. As such, it's time to be up front and put all the rumors to bed.

There's simply no way that anyone involved in The Batman is unsure about Affleck's status. While he's reported to have one more movie as the Dark Knight in his contract, we all know that a good lawyer can get you out of anything, and he has other projects planned. With the future of the Worlds of DC mapped out for the next few years, rest assured that discussions have been had and concluded over his availability. Regardless of what scoopers claim from their sources who are second cousins of the mothers of the janitors of the studio, Affleck's fate has been decided, and it likely happened a long time ago.

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Reeves' script, which is close to completion, will be geared towards either a younger actor or Affleck – not both. Even if Affleck is intended to appear in a narrator type of role or bookend the film, it means someone else will be carrying the meat of the production; in other words, there will be another Batman. If you think Batfleck can be de-aged, as per the latest videos doing the rounds on social media, ask yourself if Warner Bros. will ever want to rely on CGI to modify an actor's face for an entire film after the Henry Cavill mustache-gate fiasco.

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Ben Affleck's Batman

No matter what the outcome, it's a win-win for Warner Bros. If Affleck stays, then great; he's generally accepted as a good Batman, and he'll receive the solo film that many fans have clamored for. If he goes, Warner Bros. can spin it as a new start for the Worlds of DC, a decision no one is likely to begrudge the studio for making.

The real danger here is allowing the uncertainty to fester much longer or, worse, allowing two versions of Batman to exist at the same time. Let's say a younger actor portrays the Caped Crusader in The Batman and knocks it out of the park. Do you put a stop to his momentum by going back to Affleck for another Justice League film? Of course not.

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While Warner Bros. insists that productions like The Batman and the upcoming Joker origin movie can operate as stand-alones and exist in some kind of film multiverse, the studio will undoubtedly gauge the response to the actors in the roles. You can bet that if Joaquin Phoenix nails it as the Clown Prince of Crime, for example, there's a solid chance that Jared Leto's position as the current main Joker will be in a more precarious position, be it by his choice of the studio's, despite whichever reported projects he's signed on for. This is Hollywood, after all, and a good chunk of what's announced never actually makes it into production.

At this point, the fans deserve some clarity to this never-ending saga. Break the news and move on. Heck, even if it is that Affleck will appear in a future DC film but not The Batman. All this constant back-and-forth chatter is more than annoying -- it's unnecessary. The relevant parties know what's happening, and it's time for them to stop the PR mumbo-jumbo and speak the truth. If Affleck stays, cool. If not, thanks for the memories, Ben, and good luck with everything. It's really that simple.