The Batman has a new boss – Matt Reeves has officially taken over the director’s chair.
Reeves has been a front runner to replace Ben Affleck ever since the Oscar winner stepped down as director of the upcoming DC Comics movie, and now he has been put in charge.
Matt closed a deal to direct and produce The Batman for Warner Bros. on Thursday (23Feb17).
“I have loved the Batman story since I was a child,” Reeves said in a statement. “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.”
The news comes less than a week after discussions between Reeves and studio bosses allegedly broke down, but now it seems all has been resolved.
“We are thrilled to have Matt Reeves taking the helm of Batman, the crown jewel of our DC slate,” said Toby Emmerich, the president and CCO of Warner Bros. “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.”
Affleck, who took on the role of Batman for last year’s (16) Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, is still expected to star in The Batman, despite stepping down as the film’s director at the end of January (17).
“There are certain characters who hold a special place in the hearts of millions,” he said in a statement. “Performing this role demands focus, passion and the very best performance I can give. It has become clear that I cannot do both jobs to the level they require.”
Reeves has enjoyed success on the big screen films like Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and Cloverfield. His next movie, War for the Planet of the Apes will hit cinemas in July (17).
