The title for Ben Affleck’s upcoming standalone Batman film, which he is writing, directing, and starring in, will be The Batman — or at least it will be for now. The curt moniker was revealed by Affleck himself during an interview at a press junket for his upcoming thriller, The Accountant, where he revealed the title but was quick to point out that, as the film is still in pre-production, the name could still very well change.
Nevertheless, after the bloated mouthful of a title that Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice was, a simple name like The Batman is mercifully welcome, and feels appropriate given this is Affleck’s first solo outing as the world’s greatest winged detective. Affleck also gave a quick update on the film’s progress, assuring fans that the script was moving along nicely.
This revelation comes in the wake of the announcement, via a Tweet from Affleck’s Twitter account, that Joe Manganiello will be playing the film’s villain, Deathstroke. Affleck shared some footage of Manganiello as the gun-toting mercenary, and expressed his interest and excitement in including Deathstroke as the villain for his film. It has also been revealed that J.K. Simmons will be taking on the role of Commissioner Gordon, and will make his debut in the upcoming Justice League film.
Hopefully Affleck’s passion for the project, and his experience as a director, writer, and actor, will have a positive effect for The Batman, especially given the very mixed reception that Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice met with. With any luck, the simple title will turn out to reflect a clear vision for the upcoming movie, that will meet with fan approval.
A release date for The Batman has yet to be announced.
