For many directors, getting the opportunity to direct aBatmanmovie is a dream come true, not for Matt Reeves though. In a recent interview, theCloverfielddirector explained why he was hesitant to take onThe Batman, despite it being about a character he adored before working on his upcoming film.
Reeves, who got his blockbuster breakthrough directingDawnandWar for Planet of the Apes, became a part ofThe Batmanconversation in late 2016 when DC was still entertaining the idea of doing a soloBatmanfilm with then-Caped Crusader, Ben Affleck. The actor had been working ascript forThe Batmanthat Reeves ultimately tossedaside.
RELATED:Batman Begins vs Spider-Man: Which Is The Better Origin Story?
Nevertheless, in an interview with Uproxx, Reeves recalled those initial conversations by saying that when he was first approached by Warner Bros., he was under the impression that it was the Affleck script they wanted to use. That story was described by Reeves as being within the more action-minded DCEU and “a James Bond kind of thing.” This premise was what caused him to dismiss the idea because he’s “usually looking for the reason to say no,” yet to his surprise, the studio actually wanted to pick his brain over whatplans he’d have forTheBatman.
Reeves made sure to tell executives he “didn’t want to do one of these stories where the Rogues Gallery characters come in and it’s really their story and Batman is a cipher because he’s already mastered himself.” Instead, Reeves wanted to build the character from the ground up. After asking for six months to present his idea and finishPlanet of the Apes, Warner Bros. said yes, and that is why Reeves guarantees thatThe Batmanis the movie he wanted to make.
The Batmandirector also addressed the idea of why it was important to do away with the tired old story of Bruce parents being murdered, as it’s been done countless times, and instead use a Batman who’s still discovering himself. That same reasoning follows throughwith Catwoman and Penguin, with the latter still being a somewhat modest crime lord and Selina far from reaching her full Catwoman form.
In the end, Reeves wants to make the piece of cinema he can put together, all with the added factor of it being all aboutBatman in the confines of the more matureand grounded script he and Peter Craig penned. Considering the love Reeves feels for the franchise, it simply had to be done his way.
The Batmanwill be released exclusively in theaters on July 12, 2025.
MORE:The Truth About Batman In Movies That Fans Need To Accept
