As Warner Bros. and DC ramp up their superheroic output as part of their answer to Marvel’s domination of the genre in cinemas, we have some confirmed movies – such as the in-production Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice and the planned Justice League** follow up, plus a rumoured future schedule. Another possibility has emerged from Latino Review’s sources, with whispers that Ben Affleck’s Batman will appear in his own stand-alone film, working titled **The Batman.
Naturally, none of this has been confirmed by the studio, so you may file it firmly in the Bat-rumour storage caves for now. But with Affleck signed on for multiple outings as the Caped Crusader, the idea is hardly far fetched. Warners would naturally want to capitalise on any potential goodwill generated by Zack Snyder’s two new movies and it only seems right that the new Bats score his own adventure.
It may not shake out this way, but the timing appears feasible. Dawn Of Justice will shoot until late this year for release in 2016, then Justice League is scheduled for work in 2015 ready for a potential berth in 2018. After that, Affleck could conceivably take a break and direct Live By Night, giving more time for a Bat-script to be developed.
We’ll have to wait and see whether The Batman, or whatever it ends up being called, actually touches down on our screens in 2019 or so, but even chatter from sources means that the studio is giving definite thought to future plans. We may see more details when Comic-Con comes calling next month.** Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice**, meanwhile, arrives on April 29, 2016.