Ben Affleck might be on his way out as Batman. Reports reveal that Warner Bros. is considering a graceful exit for the actor in the wake of some changes in the DC Cinematic Universe (DCEU).
The Hollywood Reporter cites insider sources privy to the studio's plans for Ben Affleck and the Batman franchise. But how or when this graceful exit will be carried out is still unclear.
The news comes as Ben Affleck's attendance is expected at the San Diego Comic Con (SDCC) this weekend. The actor is supposed to be part of the DCEU panel for the "Justice League" movie, where he reprises his role as Batman/Bruce Wayne.
First Batman outing
Ben Affleck first appeared as Batman in the 2016 movie "Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice" with Henry Cavill (Superman) and Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman). The movie served both as a follow-up to 2013's "Man of Steel" and as an anchor to the first part of "Justice League," which will be in theaters this November.
Ben Affleck is also supposed to be contracted for a solo Batman movie with an option for its own trilogy. The original agreement with Warner Bros. was that he would write and direct this film, tentatively called "The Batman."
Signs of trouble
Somewhere along the way, however, Ben Affleck's Batman gig was showing signs of trouble. In an interview with The Guardian in January, the actor said that nothing was still set in stone.
"If it doesn’t come together in a way I think is really great I’m not going to do it,” he told the news outlet. Shortly after saying this, he dropped out as director for "The Batman."
Warner Bros. then brought in Matt Reeves in his place, and the director announced in early July that he's ditching the script that Affleck wrote.
Reeves said they will have to start developing a new Batman film all over again, which now puts in question Ben Affleck’s role.
Speculations indicate that Matt Reeves tapped Mark Bomback to co-write the new screenplay and it looks like they do not have the actor in mind for the lead. Insiders said the studio could be replacing the star, who is in his mid-40s, with a younger actor who can still carry "The Batman" franchise in the next decade.
Personal transition
Meanwhile, Ben Affleck also dropped out of “Triple Frontier,” his project with Netflix. In a press release, the actor cited that his reason for leaving was personal. He wanted to focus on his wellness and family.
It’s no secret that the Hollywood superstar is in the middle of settling his divorce with ex-wife Jennifer Garner after ten years of marriage. He also publicly admitted in March that he went for treatment for substance abuse problems.
