Affleck To Star, Direct And Co-Write BATMAN Film

Batman has been a consistent cash cow for Warner Brothers, so it seemed very unusual for the studio to not have included a Batman film in the long list of DC Comics films it put out last year. But it looks like we will be getting a Batman film, once new Batman Ben Affleck’s schedule clears up a bit.

Deadline is reporting that Affleck will be co-writing a Batman feature with DC Comics Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns. Affleck will also direct and, naturally, star in the film as well.

Johns is no stranger to Hollywood. He got his start in film as Richard Donner’s assistant before becoming a superstar comic book writer, making for the most circuitous route any assistant ever took to become a screenwriter.

Don’t expect a Batman film too soon. Affleck has to direct and star in the long-delayed Live By Night, based on the Dennis Lehane novel of the same name. That film is scheduled to start shooting in November, aiming for an October 2016 release date. Affleck is also involved in 2017’s Justice League, so the soonest industry analysts think Batman will hit theaters is 2018.

We’ll see if this is all true on Saturday at Warners’ SDCC panel.