Ben Affleck announced earlier this week that he had made the decision to step down as the director of the upcoming solo Batman movie. Affleck’s status as a director has been in question since the beginning of the year, as he mentioned himself that his spot in the director’s chair no guarantee.
In a statement regarding the decision, Affleck stressed how important he believes it is to have full focus on each individual role in to create the best outcome for the film.
“There are certain characters who hold a special place in the hearts of millions,” Affleck said. “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.”
But who will that partner be? Rumors speculate Warner Bros. already has a small number of replacements in mind, with War for the Planet of the Apes director Matt Reeves being a front runner.
While Ben Affleck stepped down as director, he will obviously still don the dark knight’s cowl and will have a larger role as a producer. Be on the lookout for the Boston native as Batman on Nov. 17 in Justice League, and this summer in the solo Batman film.
As of now, Affleck is set to co-write the solo movies script with veteran DC writer Geoff Johns. But let’s face it, if the change in directors in any indication, nothing is written in stone, so be sure to check back to the site for all things Ben Affleck, Batman and Nerd News.