Update: Not so likely after all. Though talks had been underway with Reeves, The Hollywood Reporter has learned that Reeves has passed on the opportunity. The director hunt continues...
Likely driven by the aftermath of having starred in and directed Live By Night (and the critical lambasting the film largely took), Ben Affleck recently announced that he would not be directing The Batman, solo Dark Knight film that will see him reprising the role he made his own in Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice and this November's Justice League. Now, according to Deadline, Matt Reeves has been offered the opportunity to sit in the director's chair.
As reported by Empire, Affleck explained his reason for not wanting to direct by noting, "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." Which is not to suggest that the actor will merely be showing up, hitting his marks and delivering his lines. Affleck is intimately involved with the screenplay and will also still be serving as producer, so it’s extremely likely he’ll be working closely with Reeves.
For his part, Reeves has certainly proven himself up for the challenge. He's directed the films Cloverfield and Let Me In, and moved on to franchise territory with 2014's Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes, the success of which has led him to take on this summer's War For The Planet Of the Apes, third in the rebooted film series that began in 2011 with Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes. Reeves is also attached to direct and executive producer the TV pilot The Passage, based on the novel by Justin Cronin and dealing with the rise and aftermath of a vampire apocalypse.
• Ben Affleck Won't Direct The Batman — But He's Staying In The Cowl