Filmmaker Matt Reeves speaks during the 5th International Rome Film Festival at Auditorium Parco Della Musica on Oct. 31, 2010 in Rome, Italy. (Photo : Getty Images/ Pascal Le Segretain)
Ben Affleck dropped out of the director's chair for "The Batman" several weeks back but is still signed on to direct and produce the film. It has now been confirmed that Warner Bros. Pictures has chosen "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" director Matt Reeves to fill in the empty spot.
The director is committed to the job but has not yet officially signed a deal with the studio, Variety reported. He was already high on the list of options, which includes high-profile directors such as Ridley Scott and Fede Alvarez.
Affleck also penned the screenplay for the film, with the aid of Chris Terrio who also worked on "Argo" and "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice." It is expected that Reeves will edit the screenplay further in order to put his stamp on the film.
Reeves is also no stranger to jumping into the director's chair in the middle of an ongoing franchise. The director was brought in for "Dawn of the Planet of Apes," sequel to "Rise of the Planet of the Apes," and managed to create a financially and critically successful movie.
The director has been working in the industry since the 1990s but got his first big break with 2008's "Cloverfield" and later in 2010 with "Let Me In." He is currently working on "War for the Planet of the Apes" which will release this July 14, Collider reported.
No official release date for "The Batman" has yet been announced although it is aiming for a 2019 launch window. Production was meant to initiate by May this year although it is likely to be pushed back to the latter end of the year, once "War for the Planet of the Apes" releases.
Affleck has already appeared as Batman in "Batman v Superman," "Suicide Squad" and will appear again in this year's "Justice League." The official trailer for "Justice League" can be viewed below:
