It's true, folks. Ben Affleck has officially stepped down as director of The Batman. For those holding out on The Batman so it could maybe "save" the DC movie universe, well… this might be bad news for you. This is really bad news for both lovers and haters of the DCEU.
Ben Affleck officially confirmed the news to Variety in which he stated that he will no longer direct the film due to the fact he wants to dedicate all his time on his performance as the caped crusader.
“There are certain characters who hold a special place in the hearts of millions,” Affleck said in the statement. “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.”
Cue the Sad Affleck video.
It sounds like Affleck will still have some weight on the project with a producing and writing credit, but it's hard to say if it'll be the same movie we were expecting. Although Affleck states it's so he can work on crafting a good performance, one can't help believe it's also due to the pressure he's been getting about the film.
In almost every interview he's been in since Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, people have asked him what exactly is going on with the solo Batman film. He usually gave the same answer about saying he'll do it when it's ready but these last few months have especially been hard on him.
His passion project Live by Night, which he directed, produced, wrote, and starred in, got less than favorable reviews and when press interviewed him for it and asked about Batman, you could sense some annoyance in his answers. Maybe he just doesn't want to let the fans down.
Ben Affleck's next DC appearance will be in Justice League which opens in theaters on November 17th, 2017.
