Ben Affleck has had a lot on his plate recently: actor, director, producer and even full-time meme. That workload, though, seems to have gotten the better of him as he has jointly made the decision with Warner Bros. to step down from directing standalone Bats flick The Batman as he “cannot do both jobs to the level they require.”
Variety confirmed the news late last night, which shouldn’t come as much surprise seeing as how Ben Affleck previously voiced his frustrations at the ongoing process of preparing for The Batman. While he’s been attached as a director for some time, including confirming it earlier this month on Jimmy Kimmel Live, things never really got past the planning stage.
Any fears that Ben Affleck may step away from the franchise entirely have been squashed as Affleck confirmed in a statement that he would return to play The Dark Knight alongside “a director who will collaborate… on this massive film.”
It says a lot when not even the goddamned Batman can spin all of these plates at once (though he still remains producer and co-writer with Geoff Jones), and early rumours suggest War for the Planet of the Apes director Matt Reeves may replace Affleck behind the camera.
Affleck ended his statement by assuring fans he’s still in this for the long haul, stating: “I remain extremely committed to this project, and look forward to bringing this to life for fans around the world.”
Who do you think would be a perfect fit to replace Ben Affleck as director? Let us know in the comments!
Image: DC/Warner Bros.
