Zack Snyder's Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice is almost here, and with it comes the expansion of the long-awaited DC Extended Universe. Building off the story of Man of Steel, Batman V Superman introduces a bevy of new characters to the franchise, many of which will be fleshed out down the road in solo vehicles. Though it has not been officially scheduled yet, Warner Bros. has confirmed that one of these films will be a standalone Batman movie starring Ben Affleck. They intend to release it before 2020.
Word on the film's development has been mum, but one interesting nugget of information emerged during San Diego Comic-Con 2015, when it was rumored that Affleck was going to co-write the Batman screenplay with DC Entertainment CEO Geoff Johns. Affleck has now confirmed that he is indeed collaborating with Johns on some type of project, though he stopped short of revealing what exactly it was.
On an episode of DC All Access (skip to 3:49 in the video above), the actor/filmmaker revealed that he and Johns are working on something together, praising the DC boss for being a great aid:
"Geoff Johns is a brilliant guy. I consider him to be the most valued resource on all things comic book. And every time I like something in a comic I mention, he goes, 'Oh yeah, I wrote that.' Now I just think he's bullshitting me, because he says he wrote everything. He and I are working together on something and I really am excited about it and I love him. He's the best."
It remains to be seen what exactly becomes of this new partnership, but the new Batman movie is the most likely possibility. Ever since Affleck joined the DCEU to play the Caped Crusader, talk of him directing a Gotham City-set crime drama has been non-stop. He's yet to sign on, but he has said in the past that working with Snyder on Dawn of Justice "inspired" him, suggesting that one day he would try his hand at helming a superhero movie. A comic book adaptation would be a change-of-pace for Affleck, as his previous credits behind-the-camera are smaller dramas, but those sensibilities would be best served in a Batman story. In addition, he's also a talented screenwriter, so working with a comics guru like Johns should help him turn in an even greater script.
Going off of the early reactions to Batman V Superman, WB may be influenced to fast track a Dark Knight solo film. Though a majority of the reviews have been negative, Affleck's turn as Bruce Wayne/Batman is one of the few elements receiving praise. Many people are interested in seeing more of his version, meaning that the demand for an Affleck led Batman movie is about to grow exponentially. Fans were also excited by the recent casting of J.K. Simmons as Batman ally Commissioner James Gordon, so that corner of the DCEU is generating sizable buzz. As the studio looks for a way to improve word-of-mouth, handing Affleck the keys to the Batmobile soon would be a smart way to go.
NEXT: Batman V Superman Cast Talks DCEU
Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice opens on March 25, 2016, followed by Suicide Squad on August 5, 2016; Wonder Woman on June 23, 2017; Justice League Part One on November 17, 2017; The Flash on March 16, 2018; Aquaman on July 27, 2018; Shazam on April 5, 2019; Justice League Part Two on June 14, 2019; Cyborg on April 3, 2020; and Green Lantern Corps. on June 19, 2020. Solo Superman and Batman movies are coming before 2020.
Source: DC All Access