You read that right! Ben Affleck is stepping down as the director for The Batman movie. After some discussions between Affleck and Warner Bros., it was mutually decided that the best thing to do in order to make the film possible was for him to remain on just as a producer and as the star actor. From some local sources near Affleck, he had been talking about letting go of the director position for a few weeks now.
Warner Bros. and Affleck are now looking for a new director who can take on this project while keeping loyal to the story. Â The decision was made specifically in the best interest of the film.
Now, if you are thinking that this decision for Affleck to step down is due to his recent directing job on Live by Night, you might be surprised to learn that is not the case. However, among some of the candidates on their short list for a new director is Matt Reeves. Reeves has worked on projects like War for the Planet of the Apes, Let Me In, and Felicity.
Affleck had this to say in a statement regarding the decision to step down as the director:
There are certain characters who hold a special place in the hearts of millions…Performing this role demands focus, passion and the very best performance I can give. It has become clear that I cannot do both jobs to the level they require. Together with the studio, I have decided to find a partner in a director who will collaborate with me on this massive film. I am still in this, and we are making it, but we are currently looking for a director. I remain extremely committed to this project, and look forward to bringing this to life for fans around the world.
Warner Bros. also said in a statement that they remain committed to working with Ben and his standalone Batman film, and his work that he has done in preparing for the Batman movie that he co-wrote the script with Geoff Johns.
