‘The Batman’ Director Matt Reeves Explains Why He Passed on Ben Affleck’s Initial Script

thewrap.com:

“The Batman” begins with him almost passing on the project altogether. When Reeves was originally offered the chance to meet with Warners about directing “The Batman,” the film had an existing script co-written by Ben Affleck – one that Reeves now admits he wasn’t too fond of tackling himself, despite calling it a “totally valid” take on a new Batman movie.Speaking with Esquire, Reeves relayed his initial conversations with Warner Bros.

about directing a Batman film. “I read a script that they had that was a totally valid take on the movie,” Reeves said. “It was very action driven.

It was very deeply connected to the DCEU, with other major characters from other movies and other comics popping up. I just knew that when I read it this particular script was not the way I’d want to do it.”Indeed, Affleck was originally set to direct and star in his own Batman movie following his turns as the Caped Crusader in “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” and “Justice League,” but in Jan.

2017 the Oscar-winning “Argo” filmmaker revealed he’d be stepping down from the director’s chair – although he still planned to star in and produce the film.It’s at this point that Reeves was approached with the existing script by Affleck and former DC Entertainment CCO Geoff Johns, but the “War for the Planet of the Apes” filmmaker countered WB’s proposal with a different offer: the only way he could see himself directing the movie is if he wrote the script himself.“I said, ‘Look, I think maybe I’m not the person for this,’” Reeves told Esquire. “And I explained to them why I love this character.