Matt Reeves, the newly appointed director of The Batman after Ben Affleck stepped down, confirms that it will not be part of the DC Extended Universe. There are four films from the DCEU thus far: Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Suicide Squad, and Wonder Woman. Justice League will be joining the list November 17th of this year. However, it is confirmed that The Batman will be a standalone movie.
In Matt Reeves’ recent interview with KCRW, his words can be interpreted as pretty much confirmation that The Batman is not part of the DCEU:
I have a vision for a way to do something with that character that feels like it resonates with me personally, and a perspective that can grow out into other things. […] When they [Warner Bros.] approached me, what they said was, ‘Look, it’s a standalone, it’s not part of the extended universe.
This may not be a bad thing. I wonder about films such as Under the Red Hood, and Batman: Year One, both phenomenal and both standalone movies. The interview had taken place, well after of the news of a DC film which features only the Joker. And so, we can also ponder if Reeves means that his Batman film will be how Wonder Woman’s film is, as she was a standalone hero in the film. Neither Superman or Batman appeared, only referenced.
Ben Affleck and DC Entertainment’s president, Geoff Johns’ script of The Batman has been scrapped, and the director The War of the Planet of the Apes will be giving the film a fresh start.
It’s a new story. It’s just starting again. I’m excited about it. I think it’s going to be really cool.
Here’s hoping it won’t have the death of Thomas and Martha Wayne for the upteenth time.
The Batman does not have an official release date, however, 2019 appears to be a possible release time.