Thanks to the success of Wonder Woman, Warner Bros.’ DC Extended Universe has managed a bit of much-needed breathing room before November’s Justice League drops. But as the Internet knows all too well, there’s no wrath like a fanboy scorned. If Justice League takes after the DCEU’s disappointing early offerings than there might be some trouble. Fortunately for the studio, director Matt Reeves is bat-grappling to the rescue fresh off the immense buzz for his upcoming blockbuster War for the Planet of the Apes. Reeves will direct Ben Affleck in The Batman…and potentially its two sequels.
Reeves said in a recent interview that he has been toying with ideas for a new Batman trilogy set within the DCEU. Previously, just one solo Batman movie had been mentioned in any official capacity. Affleck has also previously been rumored to want out after The Batman given all of the behind the scenes dysfunction at the studio. Could he be persuaded to stick around if he likes what he hears?
None of this is a guarantee as Reeves was speaking about his vision and hope for the series rather than a studio-mandated blueprint. As has been reported, WB nabbed Reeves after Affleck himself stepped down from the director’s chair. During the current press tour for War of the Planet of the Apes, Reeves has consistently noted similarities between Bruce Wayne and ape leader Caesar and it does make sense. The Apes series has been praised for infusing genuine thought and authenticity to the summer blockbuster genre as did Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy.
In an interview with Fandango, Reeves discussed what lessons he’s learned from Apes that apply to Batman:
“And when [screenwriter] Mark [Bomback] and I began [Dawn of the Planet of the Apes], we knew what our goals were, but we didn’t know how we were gonna get there, and I would say that that more relates to the way that I see a Batman story, is a kind of ambition for a series of stories, but really the most important thing is gonna be to tell a vital first story.”
Reeves is no dummy; he knows what fans have been clamoring for over the years. He scored major brownie points with Batman die-hards recently when he said he’ll be taking an Alfred Hitchcock-like approach to the “vital first story” of The Batman, including a noir detective feel. Should he deliver a crowd-pleasing and money-making first effort, there’s no doubt Warner Bros. would push he and Affleck for more.
Reeves continued:
“I have ideas about an arc, but really, the important thing is just to start … you have to start with one. You know, you have to start with a story that begins something.”
The Batman doesn’t have an official release date yet, but it is rumored to be sometime in 2019.
