The Batman: Matt Reeves Will Officially Direct and Produce
- Written by Jordan Maison
- Published in Movie News
After an initial rumor, then having the negotiations break down entirely, Warner Bros. has officially hired Matt Reeves to direct The Batman, which will give the newest incarnation of the Caped Crusader a standalone story. Come inside to check out the announcement!
The film industry, like any other business, will go back and forth. We've seen people attached to movies drop out at the last minute, and "done deals" entirely fall apart. A couple weeks ago, after Ben Affleck dropped The Batman directing gig, word came out that Matt Reeves (Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and War for the Planet of the Apes) was in talks to direct.
The internet exploded at the possibility as he's a fantastic storyteller...but then last week, news came out that the negotiations had fallen apart and it looked like the WB would have to keep searching. So imagine our surprise today when they revealed, via an official press release, that they'd managed to work out a deal with Matt Reeves afterall!
Warner Bros. Pictures announced today that Matt Reeves (“Dawn of the Planet of the Apes,” “Cloverfield”) has been set to direct “The Batman.” Reeves will also serve as a producer on the new standalone action adventure centering on one of DC’s most enduringly popular Super Heroes. The announcement was made by Toby Emmerich, President and Chief Content Officer, Warner Bros. Pictures Group.
Emmerich stated, “We are thrilled to have Matt Reeves taking the helm of Batman, the crown jewel of our DC slate. Matt’s deep roots in genre films and his evolution into an emotional world-building director make him the perfect filmmaker to guide the Dark Knight through this next journey.”
Matt Reeves noted, “I have loved the Batman story since I was a child. He is such an iconic and compelling character, and one that resonates with me deeply. I am incredibly honored and excited to be working with Warner Bros. to bring an epic and emotional new take on the Caped Crusader to the big screen.”
Crazy how these things work, but I'm pretty hyped with this choice. Reeves' Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is still among one of my favorite films, and I'm eager to see what he can do with another iconic franchise and a superhero movie. The release doesn't mention a release date, which isn't a surprise, but it's kind of odd that Ben Affleck isn't mentioned at all either.
Don't put your conspiracy hats on just yet, however, as most have heard he's still very much attached to the project to reprise his role as Batman. What do you guys think of this news?
-Jordan