Matt Reeves Confirms The Batman Is Starting Over From Scratch

It’s been months since Ben Affleck stunned DCEU fans by stepping down as the director for The Batman. The film was left hanging for sometime before Matt Reeves could step in. The director is now starting to think about The Batman since his commitment on War for the Planet of The Apes is done, so that means he needs to think up a whole new story.

Recently, MTV snagged Reeves for a lengthy interview on its Happy Sad Confused podcast. The director talked at length about his approach to filmmaking and his tenure with Planet of the Apes before turning to Batman. While Reeves couldn’t say much, he did confirm his take on The Batman will move away from the script Affleck and Geoff Johns penned.

“No,” Reeves explained. “It’s a new story. It’s just starting again. I’m excited about it. I think it’s going to be really cool.”

Later, Reeves was also asked if he has approached anyone about casting for the project. MTV’s Josh Horowitz specifically brought up Josh Gad’s on-going teases about him playing the Penguin, but the director said nothing like that has happened. “No, no, no. The whole thing is just; Truly, I’ve not been doing anything other than working on Planet for the Apes,” he explained.

The interview also delved into how Reeves became acquainted with Warner Bros. about the Batman project. The director said the studio wanted to meet with him abouta ‘general’ project, so Reeves took his time accepting given his Planet of the Apes gig. However, after Reeves learned the project’s nature, he said he found some time to meet with the studio. When the director did meet with the studio, Reeves said he made a few things clear.

“Not only did I say this is the perspective where I want to come which is a personal perspective, but I also said this: I’m not free. I cannot start on this [right now],” Reeves said. I’m working on a movie I’ve been on for three years, and I’m certainly not going to drop the ball now.”

For now, it looks like Reeves is just starting to flesh out his plan for The Batman as he takes a break following his lengthy tenure with Planet of the Apes. There is no telling how The Batman may change moving forward, but fans have been quick to vocalize their most potent concern. Before Affleck exited the movie, Joe Manganiello was cast to play Deathstroke. If Reeves chooses to move away from the villain, then the actor may not get to suit up as the villain after all. And, for fans, the loss would be a hard one to accept at this point.

UP NEXT: The Flash Movie Is Open To Directors Phil Lord & Chris Miller

Next up for DC and WB is Justice League, and you can find the official synopsis below. Justice League currently has a 4.16 out of 5 on ComicBook.com’s anticipation rankings. The full synopsis can be found below.

In Justice League, fueled by his restored faith in humanity and inspired bySuperman‘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 (Batman), Henry Cavill(Superman), Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman), Ezra Miller (The Flash), Jason Momoa (Aquaman), Ray Fisher (Cyborg), Ciarán Hinds (Steppenwolf), Amy Adams (Lois Lane), Diane Lane (Martha Kent), Jeremy Irons (Alfred Pennyworth), J.K. Simmons (Commissioner Gordon), Amber Heard (Mera), Kiersey Clemons (Iris West) and Jesse Eisenberg (Lex Luthor).

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