Affleck No Longer Directing Next Batman Movie

'I cannot do both jobs to the level they require'
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 31, 2017 12:41 AM CST
Affleck No Longer Directing Batman Movie
Ben Affleck arrives at the world premiere of "The Accountant" at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles.   (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)

Ben Affleck has bowed out of directing The Batman but he still plans to produce the movie and star as Batman. Sources tell Variety that Affleck and Warner Bros. arrived at the decision together, and it had nothing to do with the fact that the Affleck-directed Live by Night was a major flop. "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 said in a statement. "Together with the studio, I have decided to find a partner in a director who will collaborate with me on this massive film." Affleck will next appear as Batman in Justice League this fall, with the Batman standalone movie expected in 2018, the AP reports. (More Ben Affleck stories.)

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