Ben Affleck will not be directing The Batman

Big news for Batman fans.

While Christopher Nolan and Tim Burton made extremely enjoyable adaptations of The Dark Knight, we're firmly of the opinion that Batman fans still can't shake off the memories of Joel Schumacher's films. To be honest, we still get the dreaded 3am shakes from Mr "You're not sending me to the cooler!" Freeze. Ughhhhh. With this in mind, finding the right director to adapt the world's most beloved comic-book character is an important matter and Variety are reporting that Ben Affleck will not be directing The Batman. Batfleck will be staying on in the cape though and serving as a producer. "There are certain characters who hold a special place in the hearts of millions,” Affleck said in a statement. “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.” Regarding a replacement behind the lens, sources say that there is a shortlist for the job and that War For The Planet of the Apes director Matt Reeves is one of the leading candidates. “Warner Bros. fully supports Ben Affleck’s decision and remains committed to working with him to bring a standalone Batman picture to life,” the studio said a statement. Despite the mixed reviews that Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice received, we still enjoyed Affleck's grizzled take on the Caped Crusader. Here's hoping that a new director will remain committed to a more weary, disgruntled and pissed off version of The Dark Knight.