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The Batman: Ben Affleck replaced by Matt Reeves as director

The director's credits include Cloverfield and the upcoming War for the Planet of the Apes

Jacob Stolworthy
Saturday 11 February 2017 11:27 GMT
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Ben Affleck has been officially replaced as director of The Batman after stepping down from the role.

His successor has been named as Cloverfield filmmaker Matt Reeves who directed sequel Dawn of the Planet of the Apes as well as the upcoming War for the Planet of the Apes.

Affleck dropped out of the role following increased reports that the project's script was in trouble (something the actor himself grew frustrated by).

He is still expected to star as the Caped Crusader having made two appearances as the DC character already in films Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and a brief cameo in Suicide Squad. He's also completed work on superhero mashup Justice League which will be released later this year.

Justice League - Comic-Con Trailer

The Batman, which is primed for a 2019 release, is currently being rewritten by Chris Terrio, the Oscar-winning scribe of Affleck's very own Best Picture winner Argo.

Other directors rumoured to be in the running to overtake affleck included Fede Alvarez (Don't Breathe) and Sir Ridley Scott.

Affleck most recently directed and starred in Live By Night which was a critical and commercial flop.

Reeves' War for the Planet of the Apes is released on 14 July.

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