Ben Affleck has stepped down as Batman director. Photo / Supplied
Ben Affleck has stepped down as Batman director. Photo / Supplied
Ben Affleck is no longer directing the Batman standalone movie for Warner Bros.
In a statement Monday, Affleck said it "has become clear that I cannot do both jobs to the level they require" and that he and the studio are looking for a new director.
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"There are certain characters who hold a special place in the hearts of millions," Affleck said in a statement.
"Performing this role demands focus, passion and the very best performance I can give. It has become clear that I cannot do both jobs to the level they require. Together with the studio, I have decided to find a partner in a director who will collaborate with me on this massive film.
"I am still in this, and we are making it, but we are currently looking for a director. I remain extremely committed to this project, and look forward to bringing this to life for fans around the world."
Affleck made his debut as the superhero for the studio last summer in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and he had been attached to write and direct the Batman standalone movie for about a year.
Ben Affleck as Batman in the film Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Photo / Supplied
He attended Comic-Con this summer with his fellow DC Universe directors, like Wonder Woman's Patty Jenkins, Justice League's Zack Snyder, and Rick Famuyiwa, who this past fall also stepped away from directing The Flash.
The studio in a statement said that it "fully supports" his decision and "remains committed to working with him to bring a standalone Batman picture to life."
Matt Reeves, who directed War for the Planet of the Apes, is reportedly among those on the shortlist to take over, sources told Variety.
Warner Bros. this past autumn lost another director in their DC Universe in Rick Famuyiwa who had been set for The Flash.
Warner Bros. and Affleck have had a longstanding relationship. This past fall alone, Affleck made a cameo as Batman/Bruce Wayne in Suicide Squad, starred in The Accountant, and wrote, directed and starred in the period drama Live by Night.
Speaking to The Associated Press in December , Affleck said he was taking his time with the script for Batman, which he called an "exhilarating" challenge, "like jumping out of an airplane."
Warner Bros. has had a rocky start kicking off its expanded universe of DC Comics films. Both Batman v Superman and Suicide Squad were savaged by critics, but they still managed to be decently profitable.
Affleck will appear next as Batman in Justice League, which comes out on November 17. The Batman standalone doesn't yet have an official title or release date, but it was tentatively pegged for 2018.
