Justice League 2 Delayed to Make Room for Ben Affleck’s The Batman

The ever-evolving DC Movie schedule is always in flux in part because DC Films and Warner Bros. adjust their cinematic universe according to changing tastes. Even when plans are set, viewer response to film (liking some elements more than others) can make production interests shift.

Such is the case with Ben Affleck’s Batman, who emerged from the divisive mess of Batman v Superman as a fan-favorite. With Affleck having an even bigger presence (and influence) in the upcoming Justice League movie, the studio is intent on getting his solo movie, (tentatively referred to as The Batman) into theaters.

THR now confirms that Zack Snyder will be taking a break between production on Justice League and its follow-up Justice League 2, in order for the studio to get The Batman solo movie out the door. Snyder’s next movie will be The Last Photograph, about an Afghanistan war correspondent who teams with a special ops soldier.

In Justice League, fueled by his restored faith in humanity and inspired by Superman’s selfless act, Bruce Wayne enlists the help of his newfound ally, Diana Prince, to face an even greater enemy. Together, Batman and Wonder Woman work quickly to find and recruit a team of metahumans to stand against this newly awakened threat. But despite the formation of this unprecedented league of heroes—Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Cyborg and The Flash—it may already be too late to save the planet from an assault of catastrophic proportions.

Justice League is directed by Zack Snyder, from a screenplay by Chris Terrio, and features an ensemble cast that includes Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Gal Gadot, Ezra Miller, Jason Momoa, Ray Fisher, Ciarán Hinds, Amy Adams, Diane Lane, Jeremy Irons and Jesse Eisenberg.

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Justice League will open in theaters on November 17, 2017.