Ben Affleck To Team With DC’s Geoff Johns On Standalone ‘Batman’ Film - Part 1

[dhandler01]

I'd like actually like to see the attitude change at studios to 'what can we do for $100m?'. Smaller budgets can ironically sometimes develop more creative ideas to solve problems.

Agreed. It is amazing what people can do when they cant use every tool in their arsenal

 

[FunkMiller]

So, do we think that Live By Night bombing as hard as it has will impact on WB's relationship with Affleck, and his ability to push through the script and cast he wants for The Batman? How much autonomy and power will he have to make his own decisions?

 

[BatLobster]

So, do we think that Live By Night bombing as hard as it has will impact on WB's relationship with Affleck, and his ability to push through the script and cast he wants for The Batman? How much autonomy and power will he have to make his own decisions?

He'll still have control. Look how many second chances Snyder got from WB, and he's not even someone in the 'prestige' director category that WB sees Affleck as. The whole point of WB wanting Ben to do the movie is they want a director's vision. I don't think they actually like having to meddle in the movies, what they really want is another Chris Nolan situation where they can take their hands off the wheel and make billions doing so.

 

[FunkMiller]

He'll still have control. Look how many second chances Snyder got from WB, and he's not even someone in the 'prestige' director category that WB sees Affleck as. The whole point of WB wanting Ben to do the movie is they want a director's vision. I don't think they actually like having to meddle in the movies, what they really want is another Chris Nolan situation where they can take their hands off the wheel and make billions doing so.

Yeah, they're about a million miles away from another Chris Nolan situation right now.

You're right about the Snyder comparison though. If they still keep giving him more chances given his awful track record, Affleck will probably be fine.

 

[Boom]

Between the Lego Batman Movie, Wonder Woman, and Justice League, I figure WB will be fine, even if they take a loss on Live by Night.

Financial flops happen. It's just part of the business.

 

[OutOfBoose]

So, do we think that Live By Night bombing as hard as it has will impact on WB's relationship with Affleck, and his ability to push through the script and cast he wants for The Batman? How much autonomy and power will he have to make his own decisions?

Can imagine how Affleck feels about his last 4 cinematic involvements. Bizarrely, only the one he directed bombed. And bombed pretty hard.

I think they're pressuring him, but mostly schedule-wise. WB feels like a studio, that likes to meddle only when everything is said and done.

 

[FunkMiller]

Can imagine how Affleck feels about his last 4 cinematic involvements. Bizarrely, only the one he directed bombed. And bombed pretty hard.

I think they're pressuring him, but mostly schedule-wise. WB feels like a studio, that likes to meddle only when everything is said and done.

And I can understand if their scheduling pressure is putting him off. Doesn't exactly say good things about WB's attitude towards the DCEU if they just want the movie out as quickly as possible, without giving the man time to get it right.

But then, that's how WB have operated since this whole thing started. Who gives a **** what the quality is like? Just shovel it out fast to compete with marvel and make some cash.

 

[BatLobster]

Between the Lego Batman Movie, Wonder Woman, and Justice League, I figure WB will be fine, even if they take a loss on Live by Night.

Financial flops happen. It's just part of the business.

I haven't seen Live By Night so I can't comment on its quality, but I'm pretty bummed that it's bombing. Not just cause of Affleck, but because I've lamented the ever-shrinking presence of the "medium sized" blockbuster film and this seems to be that kind of movie.

 

[jmc]

So, do we think that Live By Night bombing as hard as it has will impact on WB's relationship with Affleck, and his ability to push through the script and cast he wants for The Batman? How much autonomy and power will he have to make his own decisions?

I'd be more worried about his mental state to be honest. Live By Night is the first critically panned movie and box office failure he's had. He's had a pretty crappy year in general.

 

[wehofilmfan]

Aquaman is going to bomb hard. The general audience does not give a damn about Aquaman. The marketing better be damn good and the word of mouth better be incredible or that movie isn't making money.

It's all riding on Wonder Woman (which I'm hearing is just as messy as BvS) and Justice League. If those two don't work, the shared universe is over. All focus will be on The Batman, Green Lantern Corps etc but I can't see them bothering to connect GL to the rest of the heroes if Justice League is awful.

Aquaman could be a good movie but I don't think it's enough to save it when it comes to box office. I'm sure it's one expensive film too.

Sorry, but I don't believe you're "hearing" real things about WW. I've got pretty good sources and have heard plenty about WW, and none of it remotely conforms with your claims, which seem to just be parroting a couple of vague online rumors from dubious or flat-out illegitimate sources.

Aquaman is a fantasy film from one of the most popular action directors working today. There's no reason to think it'll bomb -- granted, it's way too soon to assert it'll be a hit, but for now it's a branded property in the fantasy realm with known stars and a big director, so it'll just silly to act like there's reason to assume it'll fail.

 

[jmc]

They better figure out a way to make it look like he's not holding his breathe underwater. That underwater scene in BvS was awkward as hell.

 

[Tacit Ronin]

Has Disney sent a blank check to America? What else explains America not turning up to see Live by Night? This is a conspiracy.

 

[Boom]

I'm just hoping Affleck doesn't come to blame his involvement with the DCEU as a reason for Live by Night's failures. I trust he's professional enough not to go there, but he seems pretty frustrated with the reception to the film and may be trying to find rationalizations.

For the record, I don't think Live by Night is as bad as it's being made out to be. A bit meandering, but I liked it well enough.

 

[Tacit Ronin]

Sorry, but I don't believe you're "hearing" real things about WW. I've got pretty good sources and have heard plenty about WW, and none of it remotely conforms with your claims, which seem to just be parroting a couple of vague online rumors from dubious or flat-out illegitimate sources.

Aquaman is a fantasy film from one of the most popular action directors working today. There's no reason to think it'll bomb -- granted, it's way too soon to assert it'll be a hit, but for now it's a branded property in the fantasy realm with known stars and a big director, so it'll just silly to act like there's reason to assume it'll fail.

Saying James Wan is a "popular" director is stretching it pretty thin. The number of film directors who are popular enough to register to the general public can be counted on one hand, and I don't think James Wan is in it. He is only known in the film geek-sphere. And even then, he is not that lauded.

 

[jmc]

I'm just hoping Affleck doesn't come to blame his involvement with the DCEU as a reason for Live by Night's failures. I trust he's professional enough not to go there, but he seems pretty frustrated with the reception to the film and may be trying to find rationalizations.

For the record, I don't think Live by Night is as bad as it's being made out to be. A bit meandering, but I liked it well enough.

There always a chance he's bitten off more than he can chew trying to juggle being an actor in a big superhero franchise as well as doing his own movies. But who knows.

 

[shauner111]

Sorry, but I don't believe you're "hearing" real things about WW. I've got pretty good sources and have heard plenty about WW, and none of it remotely conforms with your claims, which seem to just be parroting a couple of vague online rumors from dubious or flat-out illegitimate sources.

Aquaman is a fantasy film from one of the most popular action directors working today. There's no reason to think it'll bomb -- granted, it's way too soon to assert it'll be a hit, but for now it's a branded property in the fantasy realm with known stars and a big director, so it'll just silly to act like there's reason to assume it'll fail.

I won't mention names, but somebody in the business has a friend who saw BvS early and told her to be worried because the film was messy and disjointed. This was before the reviews came pouring in. The same person told her the same thing about Wonder Woman. This is also coming from a fan who was let down by this, not somebody going in with DCEU hate in their heart. So i'm just saying it's a possibility that Wonder Woman will be another failure. I'm personally looking forward to the movie but skeptical about Gadot's performance. You don't have believe anything, that's your right.

It's just as silly to think it will succeed just because of James Wan or known stars (who besides hardcore fans of Game of Thrones know who Momoa is?). Wan isn't the one who got butts in the seats for the previous Fast and the Furious. It doesn't matter who's directing those films, especially to the general public. Wan, to me, has not proven he can do anything of worth outside of the horror genre. The point is, the general audience doesn't give a damn about Aquaman, they don't know or care about most of these actors (yet, let's wait until Justice League). Justice League has to do well, Aquaman has to turn heads in THAT movie, and they have to market the film well or i'm pretty sure it's going to bomb. There's reasons to assume it will fail. Acting like there isn't is unrealistic. I'll change my tune if people are absolutely floored by his first official appearance as well as the Aquaman trailers. We shall see.

So people getting frustrated and tired of harassment and misunderstanding, and of other professionals creating public controversy and drama about him and his life, means he's not fit to make movies? So anyone who DID do that in the past, then, shouldn't have been making movies either, right? Because otherwise, you'd just be making inconsistent and extreme statements that aren't very reasonable or accurate, yes? I wonder if we can think of any filmmakers who walked away from projects due to immense pressure...

Oh, well I wonder if we can think of any PEOPLE in general who walked away from their jobs due to lots of constant pressure, questioning, being distrusted, having their personal lives brought into the equation, etc -- as in, pretty much anyone who ever quit a job for any reason other than severe illness or getting a different job somewhere else.

"Be an actor, shut up, etc etc" -- Hmm, sounds a bit "hotheaded" to me. Also more than a tad entitled and intolerant, hostile, less than mature, etc. It's Affleck who is acting like a baby, though? Okaaaay...

Harassment? Please. He's a grown man getting paid a LOT of money for what he does, and he's whining about being harassed about a Batman movie that HE is going to direct and star in? Cry me a river, like i said before. First world white man problems right there. Give me a break. He can tell every single one of them beforehand to only ask about Live by Night. So take it like a man Ben and stop whining about it. Take a page out of Denzel's book and stop making a fuss over every little question or poor review. You don't play a character as huge as Batman, announce that you're going to direct a movie about that character and not expect people to constantly ask when he's going to make it. Especially when he can't word something correctly, like "i'll do it when it's good enough" then "there's no script". You don't say that and not expect people to misinterpret or at least ask him what the deal is.

I'm not angry. I don't really care if he makes the movie or not. I just get annoyed by celebrities who whine like it's the hardest job in the world. That's why i said take a page out of Denzel's book. It isn't hostile to express my opinion or speculate just because you're getting defensive. We all know you're in love with Batfleck and this universe (if you're not then correct me). It seems like you have an excuse for everything with this DCEU.

You're defending this guy like he's family. He's human but he has a job to do. A job that he decided to do himself. He said it's a lot of pressure no? OK so do it and embrace what comes with that (Nolan had to deal with questions too and didn't complain)...OR don't direct it. Write the script, get somebody else to direct.

If he can't handle the pressure of making a Batman movie then no, he's not fit to make it in the first place. Perhaps he's more fit to make different films. I wasn't talking about him not making movies in general, don't put words in my mouth, i was talking about THIS movie (The Batman).

Are you Foley from The Dark Knight Rises calling me a hothead because i pointed out that Ben loses his s**t all the time in public, sometimes over nonsense like a new friggin Batman movie!? LOL. This guy has the PRIVILEGE to make movies. It's hard, but it's not the hardest job on the planet, and he's getting payed millions to do it. He knows how the game works, so deal. "You're calling him a hothead!? How about you!? YOU'RE the one acting like a hothead!" right cuz that's apparently more mature..

 

[jmc]

Ok, hold up dude. Yes, it's a privilege but let's not make like it's an easy job to do. Creative jobs are more difficult than you think. They may not be physically intensive but mentally it's one of the most exhausting professions there is out there.

 

[shauner111]

It is not easy. But it's still a privilege. Of course it's exhausting. But look at the money he's making, and all he has to deal with is "everyone is asking me too many questions!"..."we need to find a suit that i don't sweat in so i can be more comfortable while im directing!". These are first world problems. He's not the only director to take on Batman. Nolan took it on 3 times. Burton did it twice. I never once heard them complain. Ben chose this pressure.

Do i still think he's whining? Yes. That's my opinion. I still like the guy but i see it for what it is.

 

[BlueLanternKal]

If everytime I left my home and got asked the same ****ing question ad naseum I'd eventually tell those people to **** off. I guess I'm a whiner too.

 

[Patchwork Man]

Saying James Wan is a "popular" director is stretching it pretty thin. The number of film directors who are popular enough to register to the general public can be counted on one hand, and I don't think James Wan is in it. He is only known in the film geek-sphere. And even then, he is not that lauded.

Disagree. Saw generated a lot of buzz when it was new. The Conjuring and The Conjuring 2 did very well. Furious 7 is one of his directorial credits, too, whether you love it or hate it. Same for Insidious. Wan seems to be good at what he does and has many more hits than misses.

 

[Boom]

Right.

I mean heaven forbid a man gets frustrated for having to repeat himself countless times.

 

[misslane38]

Nolan took it on 3 times. Burton did it twice. I never once heard them complain. Ben chose this pressure.

Did Nolan and Burton also have to act in their Batman films? Do you suppose the attention and scrutiny a famous actor experiences is slightly different than the spotlight shined on directors? You can see the difference, right?

 

[misslane38]

I won't mention names, but somebody in the business has a friend who saw BvS early and told her to be worried because the film was messy and disjointed. The same person told her the same thing about Wonder Woman. This is also coming from a fan who was let down by this, not somebody going in with DCEU hate in their heart. So i'm just saying it's a possibility that Wonder Woman will be another failure. I'm personally looking forward to the movie but skeptical about Gadot's performance. You don't have believe anything, that's your right.

Why so secretive and vague about something that is so easily reported? This is what we know about the rumor as reported by a guest on the Schmoes Know podcast and by Cosmic Book News' coverage:

Regarding Wonder Woman, Sasha [Perl-Raver] from the Schmoes Know podcast, which happened to have DC All Access' Tiffany Smith on, said she heard it from the same friend who heard that Batman vs. Superman was bad that Wonder Woman is a stinker as well. Sasha went on to note that she and her source are big Wonder Woman fans and were hoping for the best. The DC source/Sasha said, "I'm very disappointed in what I saw, and it seems like all the problems are the same problems. It's discombobulated, it doesn't have narrative flow. It's just very disjointed."

So to clarify what you claimed using the information we have available, the name you won't name for some reason is Sasha Perl-Raver. She does not appear to be "in the business" enough to have known or credible connections or access to news about Wonder Woman. She could, but as far as I know there is no way of verifying that. I haven't followed her or her commentary on this podcast or elsewhere, but unless there is a record of her having reported her source's reaction to BvS prior to its release, it would be easy for her to attempt to add credibility to her Wonder Woman rumor by saying this same source retroactively felt similarly about BvS. Meaning, she can lie about knowing a person to start a rumor and lie about that person having said something before BvS to lend credibility to that new rumor. She may also be telling the truth. However, without verification of her previous track record on rumors by having her BvS rumor recorded and dated prior to that film's release and her source/connections verified, there is no way of knowing if she's reliable.

Meanwhile, it doesn't appear as if anyone else is corroborating the rumor that Wonder Woman is poor. Quite the opposite. So, at the moment it seems more prudent to consider this new rumor with a heavy dose of skepticism.

 

[BatLobster]

I'm just hoping Affleck doesn't come to blame his involvement with the DCEU as a reason for Live by Night's failures. I trust he's professional enough not to go there, but he seems pretty frustrated with the reception to the film and may be trying to find rationalizations.

For the record, I don't think Live by Night is as bad as it's being made out to be. A bit meandering, but I liked it well enough.

I am curious to see it actually, I just still need to get around to seeing Patriots Day, Moonlight, Hidden Figures, etc. That may be part of why it's bombing honestly, there is just some fierce competition out there this Oscar season especially with the La La Land hype, not to mention Rogue One still doing solid business. Seems like a perfect storm for getting lost in the shuffle, especially when the reviews aren't good.

I figured there was no way the movie was that bad, but it does seem like the type of movie I could see critics finding a bit trite and they may be holding Ben to a higher standard coming off his first three films. I sincerely doubt the reaction has anything to do with the DCEU. Critics were very kind to Affleck's performance in BvS despite panning the film itself, he should realize that.

Did Nolan and Burton also have to act in their Batman films? Do you suppose the attention and scrutiny a famous actor experiences is slightly different than the spotlight shined on directors? You can see the difference, right?

That's true, but he DOES choose to star in the movies he directs (something that has held back some of his films, IMO). He could choose to do one at a time if he wanted, but he chooses to do both. It's not like he's being forced to do this.

 

[Tacit Ronin]

Disagree. Saw generated a lot of buzz when it was new. The Conjuring and The Conjuring 2 did very well. Furious 7 is one of his directorial credits, too, whether you love it or hate it. Same for Insidious. Wan seems to be good at what he does and has many more hits than misses.

That doesn't make him a popular director director with the masses. Directing well known films does not mean you are well known. Joss Whedon isn't more known to the masses than Martin Scorsese just because he directed two of the most popular superhero movies.