Citing sources close to Warner Bros., /Film reports that The Batman‘s script is now being rewritten from scratch ahead of a production start in 2018.
This alleged tidbit arrives on the heels of yesterday’s brief status report, which also stressed that Matt Reeves has no intention of meeting with potential casting members until at least July, in order to lend the writer-director some much-needed breathing space between War For the Planet of the Apes and the Caped Crusader’s next solo outing. On paper, it makes a lot of sense; The Batman has been thrust into something of a media maelstrom in recent months, with disconcerting reports suggesting that Ben Affleck himself was ready to bow out of the beleaguered project, so the decision to place the superhero flick on ice for at least a few months ought to steady the ship.
Circling back to that purported script overhaul, though, and it now seems that Geoff Johns and Affleck’s original pitch – one which reportedly pleased all involved in the project – has been tossed to the wayside. That’s not to say The Batman‘s first draft was subpar; if anything, it’s a sign that Matt Reeves will have the opportunity to mold his Batman movie as he sees fit and, ultimately, place his stamp on the DC Extended Universe. It’s not often we hear of directors getting creative license in mega-budget productions, but after the fallout of Batman V Superman and Suicide Squad, fans ought to welcome this nugget of information with open arms. You know, providing /Film’s findings hold true.
Now targeting a filming start in 2018, The Batman is slowly beginning to grind into motion. War For the Planet of the Apes, meanwhile, unleashes Caesar and his simian army on July 14th.