Ben Affleck will no longer direct 'The Batman' and in just 24 hours there have appeared numerous nominations to occupy this precious post. Following the announcement of the actor, who will play Bruce Wayne in the film and serve as executive producer on the project, fans have already suggested some names for the director's chair, including actor and director Kevin Smith.
One Twitter user has suggested that project managers should first call Kevin Smith. And there are three reasons that make it impossible for him to direct 'The Batman': 1) I haven't spoken to Ben in years. 2) I have already done 'Yoga Hosers', 3) Common Sense.
I'm flattered. But 3 things make me directing Batman impossible: 1) Haven't spoken to Ben in years. 2) I made @YogaHosers, 3) Common sense. https://t.co/oTIhA3FtjO
? KevinSmith (@ThatKevinSmith) January 31, 2017
We do not know which of these reasons is more curious. For starters, both Smith and Affleck have worked together on numerous films, such as 'Dogma' and 'Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back'. Affleck even starred in 'Jersey Girl', a comedy written and directed by Smith. But they have not been friends for years. Smith himself explained to the media: "I do not understand why we're not friends anymore, I have not seen him for decades ... He now has his wife, Jennifer Garner, who does not have any affection for me."
It was not the first time Smith had complained about Garner. He also explained that the actress did not like her jokes. Be that as it may, Affleck maintains a complicated relationship with the actress after separating, divorcing and reconcile again. As for his second reason, 'Yoga Hosers' is Smith's latest movie. It is a horror comedy with performances by Lily-Rose Melody Depp and Harley Quinn Smith. So we take his third motive and apply our common sense.
Who will direct 'The Batman'?
James Gunn, the director of 'Guardians of the Galaxy', has also proposed a name to direct the film. According to the filmmaker, Jeremy Saulnier is the perfect candidate to do so. He is known mainly for horror films like 'Blue Ruin' or the most recent, 'Green Room' (very well received by critics).
James Wan is working for Warner in the solo movie of 'Aquaman'. Thus, hiring a horror genre expert in a movie like this no longer seems so outlandish. Ben Affleck has repeatedly stated that he wanted the film to be epic and that it would work as hard as possible to make it. In fact, the actor has abandoned the direction of the film to focus better on his role as Batman, which has already premiered in 'Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice' and will do again in 'Justice League'.