One of the most surprising bits of news to come out of San Diego Comic Con this weekend was the revelation that DC is working on a solo Batman feature that will be directed by none other than Ben Affleck himself with a co-writer in the form of legendary comics scribe Geoff Johns.
The news site is quick to point out that Johns has already written a Batman origin in the form of the two-volume (so far) Batman: Earth One. With the current Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice taking its influence from The Dark Knight Returns, Hollywood Reporter points out, “It would be a good idea to look to his past.”
While that’s not wrong, it’s worth noting that Batman’s origin is one of the most famous in all of comics. Would audiences want another Batman origin story after Batman Begins covered so much ground?
Either way, it seems reasonable to think that Johns’ Batman story on the page would influence his work on the film. This is a good thing, considering the depth of character work Johns applied to Batman: Earth One. It could be interesting to see the dark knight nearer to the beginning of time under the cowl, still learning through trial and error. Still figuring out how to be Batman and the villains that rise despite or even because of him.
Either way, it’s reasonable for fans to be hopeful because it really does seem like only good things can come from this pairing. However split fans may be about Affleck portraying the character, it’s undeniable that he knows how to direct a movie. Crime thrillers like The Town and Gone Baby Gone suggest he’d be perfect to take on the caped crusader behind as well as in front of the camera.
Earth One has already had an impact on Fox’s Gotham, so it’s very possible that the two books could have an influence on the characters of the upcoming film, even if they don’t serve as the template for the story itself. Either way, we’ll find out more as the news develops.