Ben Affleck stopped by Jimmy Kimmel Live last night to shed some light on his involvement with the long-gestating The Batman. In the interview, Affleck who was at various points going to write, direct and star in the film, put an end to all the rumors swirling around about what was happening.
“I tried to direct a version of it and worked with a really good screenwriter but just couldn’t come up with a version,” Affleck revealed (via EW). “I couldn’t crack it, and so I thought it’s time for someone else to take a shot at it. They got some really good people, so I’m excited.”
Of course, host Jimmy Kimmel helped the actor retire his cape in a strange little ceremony Thursday night, accompanied by his assistant Guillermo, who was dressed as Robin.
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The Batman will now be helmed by director Matt Reeves (War for the Planet of the Apes), who joined the project as the director shortly after Affleck’s decision to not direct the film in 2017. However, Reeves involvement came with the added caveat that he’d get to rewrite the script from scratch.
It now appears Reeves’ script is finally coming close to a conclusion, with production set to start this November. Reeves’ story has been described as a character-driven project focusing on Batman’s experiences as the world’s greatest detective, leading many to speculate that while it won’t be an origin story it will require a younger star, making it easier for Affleck to exit the lead role.
The 46-year-old actor, who last portrayed Batman in 2017’s Justice League, is still slated to stay on the project as a producer. He’ll next be seen in the star-studded Netflix heist film Triple Frontier.
