‘The Batman’ Director Matt Reeves Clarifies Comments About Film Being Outside D.C. Universe

The Batman, directed by Matt Reeves has become the latest super hero movie to have a rocky start in development.

After claiming in July that The Batman would be a standalone story outside of the D.C. Universe, Reeves has backtracked and made clear that it still will take place within the D.C. timeline.

“Well, I have a vision for a way to do something with that character that feels like it resonates with me personally, and a perspective that can grow out into other things,” Reeves told Los Angeles’ KCRW. “When [Warner Bros.] approached me, what they said was, ‘look, it’s a standalone, it’s not part of the extended universe.'”

When the comments resurfaced earlier this week, Reeves took to Twitter late on Thursday to clear the air.

“Jeez, what’d I miss, guys…?” one tweet began. “Just to be clear: OF COURSE Batman will be part of the D.C. Universe. Batman will be BATMAN…”

He continued his explanation in another tweet, writing, “In my comments from a while back about not being part of the DCEU, I was talking about The Batman being a story specifically about Batman…not about the others in the Universe. That it wouldn’t be filled with cameos servicing other stories — that it would be a BATMAN story.”

In addition to the D.C. Universe controversy, The Hollywood Reporter reported and then retracted a story that mentioned that Ben Affleck may not return to play the Dark Knight of Gotham. Affleck was originally slated to write and direct The Batman but he was replaced by Reeves in March after the actor expressed concern over playing the titular role and directing.

Additionally, while it was rumored that Joe Manganiello would play the film’s villain Deathstroke, The Wrap reports that Manganiello recently said that he was unsure if he was still a part of the film.