Ever since Ben Affleck was cast as Batman/Bruce Wayne in Zack Snyder's "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice," fans have been wondering whether or not they'll see him in his own solo adventure. After all, Christopher Nolan's "Dark Knight" trilogy starring Christian Bale finished up its run in 2012. A reboot has been expected for some time, and Affleck's recent successes behind the camera seemed to be the perfect preparation for taking on The Batman.
Following the underwhelming response to "Dawn of Justice," a new standalone Batman movie seemed assured, as the property has traditionally been one of Warner Bros.' most successful. Now, the studio has confirmed that Affleck will be directing and starring in his own Batman movie.
Warner Bros. Chairman and CEO Kevin Tsujihara made it official while speaking at the CinemaCon event in Las Vegas while also praising Snyder's film as the launching pad for the DC Extended Universe.
"['Dawn of Justice'] set up a great foundation for our DC slate, which includes at least 10 movies through 2020," Tsuijhara said. "I'm also excited to know that we will be working with Ben Affleck on a stand-alone Batman movie."
Though "Dawn of Justice" has been received with mixed to negative reviews, Affleck's Batman has been universally praised by critics as a highlight of the film. Given this and his Oscar-winning turn for "Argo," many assumed that he would take the reins on a new Batman franchise eventually. Last month, it was revealed that he had been working on a script with DC CCO Geoff Johns.
Looking at Warner Bros.' DC schedule, it's possible that Affleck's Batman movie could arrive in either the Oct. 5, 2018 or Nov. 1, 2019 slots that the studio has earmarked for unspecified comic book movies. Though "Dawn of Justice" suffered from overcrowding, it did plant the seeds for a potential solo Batman adventure. The movie made a few clear references to the character's past relationship with the Joker, a dynamic that will be further explored in this summer's "Suicide Squad." If Jared Leto's take on the Clown Prince of Crime is well-received, he may serve as the main antagonist of a new Batman adventure.
Affleck is due to return as the Caped Crusader of Gotham in Snyder's upcoming two-part "Justice League" series.
Follow Brandon Katz at @Great_Katzby
