Batman Solo Movie Loses Ben Affleck as Director, Shortlist Already on the Way

It was only a matter of time, I guess.

After so many conflicting statements, the biggest announcement to come from Ben Affleck is that he's stepping down from the director's chair of the still-untitled Batman solo movie.

Variety got the scoop and the official announcement from Affleck himself, wherein he confirmed that he's staying on as the producer and the titular role, the project is now looking for its director.

"There are certain characters who hold a special place in the hearts of millions. 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. I am still in this, and we are making it, but we are currently looking for a director. I remain extremely committed to this project, and look forward to bringing this to life for fans around the world."

While the decision steps down comes at a very suspicious time following sad reviews of Live by Night, the source stated that the decision was made with the solo Batman film's needs at the forefront.

Warner Bros. is already moving one step ahead, as there already appears to be a shortlist of directors to partner up with Affleck on the movie. The shortlist supposedly includes Matt Reeves, known for his work on War for the Planet of the Apes, though this has yet to be confirmed.

It wasn't really surprising to hear that Affleck was both directing and acting in the Batman solo movie. After all, he's already done it with The Town, which was acclaimed and an overall hit on all fronts.

Maybe it was the pressure of creating a Batman movie following Christopher Nolan's trilogy, which remains unchallenged after all these years. Or maybe it was the pressure of perfecting a DC film, which still hasn't been done so far.

Whoever is seen as the next director, I'm still hoping for one thing: that the project finally gets a decent narrative and script that will take the story to a level that hasn't been achieved in the franchise's movie segment so far.

In the meantime, fans can look forward to Wonder Woman on June 2 and Justice League on Nov. 16.

Read:The Walking Dead will have a holistic view after the seventh season.

Michael Vartan says he looks good with a lightsaber.