In the eyes of an overwhelming majority, Ben Affleck’s turn at the caped crusader was not only the best element of the panned Batman V. Superman , but the best live action iteration of the character period. I didn’t necessarily disagree, though I found it hard to champion a Batman, well realized or not, that existed in a universe that felt so ill-conceived. Sure it was fun watching the Dark Knight grapple goons in a warehouse Arkham-style, but in the same sort of superficial way one enjoys watching an Alien brawl with The Predator. All things considered Affleck did a serviceable job portraying a Batman I’m frankly sick of seeing, and I was certainly not of the mind to put much stock in his role in the upcoming Justice League or his own solo film.
But then Batman V. Superman took a historical critical beating, igniting a systemic change in direction for the DCEU. First Warner Bros. brought on Geoff Johns, legend in the comic book industry, to serve as creative overseer. It was later announced that Affleck, who was previously attached to not only star but direct the stand alone Batman flick, would step down, so that Dawn of the Planet of the Apes director, Matt Reeves could step in and take over directorial duties. Lastly, and most impactful, was the release of Wonder Woman , the we-put-our-money-where-our-mouth-is surprise hit of the summer.
Can we get excited about Batman again? If Warner Bros. affords the same degree of creative freedom to Reaves that they gave director Patty Jenkins on Wonder Woman, the answer is a resounding yes. Here’s what Matt had to say about the project in an interview with the Holywood Reporter:
`“There’s a chance to do an almost noir driven, detective version of Batman that is point of view driven in a very powerful way, that’s hopefully going to connect you to what’s going on inside of his head and inside of his heart,” he said.
Sounds like a Batman film worth making. The comic book world loves to laud Bats as the character of innumerable faces and interpretations, though we’ve really only seen variations of one on the big screen so far, each being pretty light on the detective side of things. Reeves has proven himself to be a more than capable filmmaker, particularly as it pertains to implementing his flair for well-executed drama against loud blockbuster settings. Matt prides himself on being a huge fan of Alfred Hitchcock and plans to bring a strong sense of perspective to The Batman.
The Batman has suffered extensive rewrites since its announcement but given its new context, I hope Deathstroke remains the primary villain of the film. It makes sense from a narrative standpoint for a story that showcases Batman’s strength of mind to also counterbalance that with a character that is widely regarded as his mental and physical parallel. Affleck will stay on as producer/screenwriter and has stated many times that this film simply won’t see the light of day until he finishes a script that he feels to be perfect.
A director with an aptitude for drama and hitchcockian sensibilities, a screenwriter and star that is devoted to the role and a studio with a lot to lose. Sounds like the world’s greatest detective is receiving a long over due return to form.
