Many fans and critics consider Ben Affleck’s portrayal of Batman the best part of the otherwise disappointing “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice.” Fans have chomped at the bit for a Batman solo movie with Affleck at the helm ever since. Although many people questioned the decision to cast Affleck, no one doubted his quality as a director since he won two Oscars and two Golden Globes for best director and best screenplay for “Argo” and “Good Will Hunting.” Having proven his skill as both an actor and director, Affleck seemed like the perfect person to relaunch the Batman franchise.

Too much on Affleck’s plate

However, on Jan. 30 Ben Affleck officially announced he had stepped down as director of the upcoming Batman film. He released the statement explaining he could not direct the film and play Batman to the level both jobs required. Nevertheless, Affleck made it clear he remains committed to the project and will be staying on as lead actor and producer.

A number of directors have been rumored to take on the project and on Feb. 10, Variety Magazine reported Matt Reeves, director of “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes,” is now in early talks to direct. Reeves is best known for directing “Cloverfield” and taking over the Planet of the Apes franchise. With “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” he accomplished the rare feat of making a sequel better than the original. His film boasted excellent CGI and a well-crafted story with complex, believable characters. He took a laughable concept like an uprising of apes and turned it into a dramatic thriller that debuted a series. Reeves’ knack for improving pre-existing properties would make him an excellent choice for the project. Fans breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing that negotiations are underway between Reeves and Warner Bros.

Reeves fakes out fans

That sigh of relief turned into more groans of frustration as The Hollywood Reporter revealed negotiations have since broken down between Reeves and Warner Bros. However, they also claimed negotiations could resume once heads cool in the future.

“The studio is intent on making the movie no matter what, as the Batman franchise has proven to be bigger than one person,” The Hollywood Reporter claimed.

As if this news is not bad enough, John Campea of Collider Movie Talk claimed sources told him Ben Affleck no longer wants to play Batman, and this upcoming film may be the last time we see him play the character. However, he stressed this is no reason to panic and he could very well be wrong. Ben Affleck may be happy playing Batman. Fans will become hard pressed to remain hopeful for this project. D.C.’s latest films have been divisive at best, and these recent developments concerning “The Batman” fail to ease anyone’s fears. The only thing to do now is to wait and hope D.C. salvages this situation by finding a good director to replace Affleck.