Matt Reeves Responds To ‘Batman’ And DCEU Controversy

Warner Brothers’ The Batman movie became a subject of controversy on Wednesday when an old interview with director Matt Reeves resurfaced, stating it was “not part of the Extended Universe.” Now, the director has debunked all speculation and made a final ruling.

The Batman is a part of the DC Extended Universe.

Reeves took to Twitter to share his official ruling, as can be seen in the tweet below.

“Jeez, what’d I miss, guys…?” Reeves wrote. “Just to be clear: of course Batman will be part of the D.C. Universe. Batman will be Batman.”

The tweet settles a debate which roared on the Internet following several controversial bits of news relating to future productions from Warner Bros. and DC Films…

Clarification

“When they approached me, what they said was, ‘Look, it’s a standalone. This isn’t part of the Extended Universe,’” Reeves said on The Business podcast back in July.

The quote resurfaced following the news of a standalone Joker film which would exist in an isolated universe, independent of the DC Extended Universe, with a new actor playing Batman’s greatest nemesis. The Batman movie, however, will not follow such a lead. 

“In my comments from a while back about not being part of the DCEU, I was talking about The Batman being a story specifically about Batman,” Reeves wrote. “Not about the others in the Universe. That it wouldn’t be filled with cameos servicing other stories — that it would be a BATMAN story.”

The Batman connection to the greater DC Extended Universe is officially confirmed.

Reeves’ Approach

Though Reeves’ film will be a piece of the big puzzle, the director promises his film will tell an intimate, character-driven story for the caped crusade.

“Look, I’m just starting Batman because literally, [War for the Planet of the Apes], as I just said, we finished about a week ago and now we’re publicizing it,” Reeves told ComicBook.com in June. “So, we haven’t even begun on Batman. For me, what’s always important is to try and find a personal way in. In that way, I do feel like I relate to actors. It’s about understanding emotionally, the way something is. I see this parallel between Caesar and Batman, really, which is this idea of these characters who are grappling with their own struggle and trying to do the right thing in an imperfect world and, so, I do really relate it to that kind of idea.”

Despite rumors of Ben Affleck stepping away from The Batman movie entirely following his departure from the director’s chair, the actor promises he will be donning the cowl for Reeves. At San Diego Comic-Con in July, Affleck took the stage in Hall H to shoot down the rumors. 

“Batman is the coolest f*cking part in any universe – DC, Marvel – it’s incredible, and I’m so thrilled to do it,” Affleck said. “I know there’s this misconception that because I didn’t direct it I wasn’t enthusiastic about it; it’s f*cking amazing… and with Matt Reeves doing it, it’s like I’d be a f*cking ape on the ground for Matt Reeves – nevermind being Batman! It’s incredible! So I’m really blown away and excited and it’s a great time in the DC Universe. You’re going to see some stuff from Justice League that we’re really really proud of, and I’ll think you’ll see why I’m really excited to be Batman.”

A release date for The Batman has not yet been revealed.