Ben Affleck has officially announced that he will no longer be serving as the director of his own upcoming film, The Batman.
The Batman is the superhero’s standalone film that stars Affleck as the Dark Knight. According to a statement, the actor would rather focus his energy on playing the character than directing the film. “There are certain characters who hold a special place in the hearts of millions,” said Affleck in a report published by The Hollywood Reporter.
“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.”
Affleck first took on the role of Batman in last year’s Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice. The actor was also seen in Suicide Squad as Bruce Wayne (aka Batman) and will be appearing in a string of future Justice League films.
The last standalone Batman film – The Dark Knight Rises – was released in 2012 and starred Christian Bale as the Caped Crusader.
“Together with the studio, I have decided to find a partner in a director who will collaborate with me on this massive film,” Affleck said in the published statement. “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.”
Warner Bros, the studio responsible for all DC Comics films, added, “Warner Bros fully supports Ben Affleck’s decision and remains committed to working with him to bring a standalone Batman picture to life.”
Currently, not much is known of The Batman‘s storyline and no release date has been announced either. However, it appears that actor Joe Manganiello will be playing the villain Deathstroke in the film.
