Whether we’re talking about sad interviews, cathartic vaping sessions, or fan petitions to the White House, the Batman road has been very rocky for Ben Affleck. It got rockier in January when Affleck stepped down as director of The Batman, and rockier still with news that the actor’s script for the film was just tossed in the trash.
As per The Hollywood Reporter, newly appointed director Matt Reeves recently appeared on MTV’s Happy Sad Confused podcast, and revealed that he has dispensed with the script that Affleck penned in collaboration with Chris Terrio and Geoff Johns.
When he was asked if he would be working with the actor’s draft, Reeves responded, “No, it’s a new story. It’s just starting again. I’m excited about it. I think it’s going to be really cool.”
A couple of weeks back, we reported that Reeves was looking to “imbue The Batman with elements of mystery and noir,” and it seems that he feels a fresh start is the best way to stay true to his vision for the film.
While it’s easy to view this as a slight toward Affleck, it makes sense that Reeves would want to put his own stamp on the project. Affleck stepped down primarily due to workload/timing concerns. Here’s the statement he gave explaining the move:
“There are certain characters who hold a special place in the hearts of millions. 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.”
We’ll have to wait and see if the War for the Planet of the Apes director can salvage a Batman franchise that seems to have gone astray.
The release date for The Batman is still to be determined, but you’ll be able to catch Affleck as the Caped Crusader in Justice League very soon. The film hits theaters November 17, 2017.
Some of the best shots in Grok Imagine’s AI-made Odyssey don’t contain actors. Ancient landscapes stretch into the distance. Close-ups of grimy hands suggest people who have touched something rougher than a keyboard. For a few seconds, the illusion holds.
https://twitter.com/imagine/status/2113712964419063911
YouTube videos could soon look better without eating quite so much data, right? Thankfully, the platform plans to introduce a new video format called AV2 on its web player in early 2027, promising more efficient streaming and potentially fewer playback hiccups on slower internet connections. The big headline is a roughly 30% improvement in compression efficiency over AV1, YouTube's existing video format. That doesn't guarantee every video will use 30% less data, but it could make streaming a little easier on both internet connections and data allowances.
What is AV2, and why should viewers care?
YouTube is changing how its Home page works, giving viewers more control over what shows up there and making some of the app’s most-used sections easier to reach. Custom Feeds are now replacing the existing topic chips for eligible users, while YouTube is also testing a redesigned top bar on mobile that moves Subscriptions closer to the Home feed.
YouTube first started experimenting with Custom Feeds earlier this year, letting you type out what you wanted to watch and turning that request into its own stream of recommendations. Now, the feature is starting to look less like a side experiment and more like something YouTube actually wants people to use as part of their everyday Home page.