Director Matt Reeves Provides an Update on ‘The Batman,’ a New Movie Hopefully Hitting Theaters in 2021

The past few years have represented a tremendous learning curve for Warner Bros and their films based on the characters from DC Comics. Initially, the studio wanted to emulate Marvel Studios’ approach in creating a shared superhero universe in which every film is more or less connected with the other (Avengers: Infinity War being a perfect example), but it’s stumbled along the way with Man of Steel, Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League. Now, they’ve decided to focus on standalone films with Wonder Woman and Aquaman (their biggest hit) behind them, and The Batman on the horizon in 2021.

Director Matt Reeves (Cloverfield, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, War for the Planet of the Apes) is currently at work on on developing the next chapter in the Dark Knight’s movie saga, which will reportedly take place during his early days (meaning that Ben Affleck likely won’t be reprising the role.)

“It’s very much a point of view-driven, noir Batman tale,” Reeves tells The Hollywood Reporter. “It’s told very squarely on his shoulders, and I hope it’s going to be a story that will be thrilling, but also emotional. It’s more Batman in his detective mode than we’ve seen in the films. The comics have a history of that. He’s supposed to be the world’s greatest detective, and that’s not necessarily been a part of what the movies have been. I’d love this to be one where when we go on that journey of tracking down the criminals and trying to solve a crime, it’s going to allow his character to have an arc so that he can go through a transformation.”

No word on who will play Batman or the film’s villain, although Matt does allow, “There will be a Rogues Gallery. The casting process will begin shortly. We’re starting to put together our battle plan. I’m doing another pass on the script and we’ll begin some long-lead stuff to start developing conceptual things. We haven’t been dated. I wouldn’t commit to this, but we’re thinking the movie would probably be for 2021, late spring or summer. Warner Bros. has been incredibly supportive and given me a lot of time and shared the same passion that I do for this story.”

Next up from Warner Bros in terms of DC films will be Zachary Levi in Shazam! (April 5, 2019), Joaquin Phoenix in Joker (October 4, 2019), Margot Robbie in Birds of Prey (February 7, 2020), and Gal Gadot returning in Wonder Woman 1984 (June 5, 2020).