Matt Reeves exits The Batman after talks “break down”

Matt Reeves won’t be taking over The Batman after all…

It all seemed so promising again – last week word was announced that Matt Reeves, the acclaimed director of Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and it’s upcoming sequel War for the Planet of the Apes, was in talks to take over the director’s chair for Warner Bros and DC’s The Batman after star Ben Affleck has vacated to concentrate on starring and producing the film. But the bad luck on the DCEU continues with The Hollywood Reporter saying that Reeves has now jumped ship too.

THR says that a studio source has confirmed that “negotiations have broken down” with the director and while talks could continue when “heads cool” it is unlikely that Reeves will take the helm. The source also says that the studio is “intent on making the movie no matter what, as the Batman franchise has proven to be bigger than one person.” DC and Warners are now said to be looking at alternative directors for the film, with Ridley Scott (Alien: Covenant) and Fede Alvarez (Don’t Breathe) among those the studios are discussing.

Let’s face it – the DCEU is in crisis mode and shows no signs of getting out the of creative rut it seems to be in. Before Affleck stepped down, Rick Famiyama and Seth Grahame-Smith departed The Flash while rumours that Wonder Woman is “a mess” surfaced last year. If new rumours surrounding Affleck leaving Batman altogether turn out to be true, the new expanded universe could be over before any other projects are released.

Wonder Woman opens June 2nd; Justice League opens November 15th.