Ben Affleck is to star in a solo outing as Batman, with the Oscar-winning film-maker also likely to direct the movie, according to Deadline.
Affleck debuts as the caped crusader in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice in March next year. Zack Snyder’s movie will see him take on the man of steel in an epic ensemble superhero tale which is also due to introduce Wonder Woman and Aquaman into studio Warner Bros’ proposed cinematic universe based on the DC Comics back catalogue. However, there have long been rumours that the actor-director has also signed up to appear as Batman in separate projects.
Deadline says Affleck will co-write the screenplay with DC Comics chief creative officer Geoff Johns on the stand-alone Batman movie, which will be the first of its kind since 2012’s The Dark Knight Rises. Johns has written Batman, Superman and Green Lantern comics among other titles for DC.
Affleck is reported to be interested in assuming directing duties after he takes charge of the cameras on a forthcoming adaptation of the Denis Lehane crime novel Live by Night, which is due to shoot in November.
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is the first film in Warner’s slate of ten movies based on the DC Comics universe which was announced last October. Affleck is also expected to appear as Batman in 2017’s Justice League part one and 2019’s Justice League part two, as well as cameoing in next year’s Suicide Squad.
Warner Bros has not confirmed Affleck’s involvement in a stand-alone Batman film. The actor-director will appear at San Diego’s Comic-Con on Saturday at a special event to promote Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice to 6,500 fans.
