Although “The Batman” was originally meant to be part of the DC Extended Universe, the Matt Reeves-directed movie is now considered a standalone project separate from the larger continuity. This is largely down to the insistence of the director, who wanted to tell an earlier story about the Caped Crusader and his struggles to battle crime in Gotham. This version of the movie was co-written with Peter Craig and stars Robert Pattinson as the titular hero. Released in 2022, the film also includes Zoë Kravitz, Andy Serkis, Jeffrey Wright, and Colin Farrell among the cast.

“The Batman” had a troubled production, like many DC movie projects, and it wasn’t clear when it would actually get made. Ben Affleck, who had already portrayed Batman in three earlier films, was set to direct, write, and star in the movie. But by 2017, Variety was reporting that Affleck had chosen to step down from directing duties to focus on producing and performing.

The actor later chose to exit the project altogether. Explaining his decision in 2019, Affleck said that he couldn’t get the film to work and felt that it would be better if someone else filled the role and provided a fresh take on the character. He also revealed to The New York Times in 2020 that he had stepped back from “The Batman” due to a combination of personal issues, such as his alcoholism and divorce from Jennifer Garner, as well as his negative experience working on “Justice League.”