DC
BEN AFFLECK: “I’D LOVE TO DO IT AS LONG AS THEY’LL HAVE ME”
Entertainment Weekly caught up with ‘Justice League’ actor Ben Affleck at this weekend’s San Diego Comic-Con International, to clarify some ongoing rumors about his departure from the DCEU as The Dark Knight. Recent reports had suggested a growing feud with Warner Bros. Over Affleck’s thrown out script and his replacement in the director’s chair. Here’s what Affleck had to say about his original plan to write, Star and direct the upcoming Batman film:
“Trying to do that, and direct, would probably be too much. Something would be compromised. I think it came off, optically, to the broader world, like lack of interest or enthusiasm. When in fact I love this character. I think getting Matt Reeves to come in and do it is really, really exciting. Matt hasn’t really unveiled his full vision yet. He wanted to wait until Apes came out, and he was obviously consumed with that. So I’m looking forward to hearing what his story is.”
Matt Reeves who recently just finished work on ‘War for The Planet of The Apes’ will now turn his attention to writing the script for “The Batman.” Reeves most popular works include ‘Dawn of The Planet of the Apes’ and ‘War For The Planet of The Apes’ and 2008’s ‘Cloverfield.’
Affleck continued on stating how humbled he is to be able to play the character of Batman and continued to establish his intention to play the character as long as DC and Warner Bros. will allow it.
“Warners has been working on it, making sure we’re getting it right. That’s the partnership you definitely want. With Wonder Woman, they really hit a home run. With (Justice League), I think we’ve found the tone, and found the flavor of it. I’d love to do it as long as they’ll have me. Eventually it’ll be somebody else, and I’m sure they’ll get somebody great. But while I’m doing it, I’m going to do the best job I can, and really appreciate how lucky I am.”
John Cena may not be putting on the Peacemaker helmet again anytime soon, but the actor appears perfectly comfortable waiting for James Gunn to call his number.
During a recent appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast with Josh Horowitz, Cena opened up about his future as Christopher Smith following the second season of Peacemaker and where the character currently fits within Gunn and Peter Safran’s expanding DC Universe.
When asked whether he had worn the Peacemaker helmet since finishing the second season, Cena gave a straightforward answer: “No.”
That doesn’t mean Cena is walking away from the character. The actor made it clear that he remains committed to Gunn and is willing to return whenever the DC Studios co-CEO needs him.
Cena explained that he has already had an opportunity to play a character who was relatively unknown to mainstream audiences and believes it is now important for Gunn to devote his attention to some of DC’s biggest characters.
“I got to step back.”
Cena pointed to characters such as Superman as examples of the massive pieces Gunn is currently responsible for establishing within the new DCU.
Peacemaker [dc studios]
The comments come as Gunn continues building an interconnected universe across film and television. David Corenswet’s Superman has become one of the central figures of the franchise, while projects involving Batman, Wonder Woman and several other major DC characters remain in various stages of development.
Cena’s comments shouldn’t necessarily be interpreted as the end of Peacemaker.
The second season left Christopher Smith’s story open for continuation, and Gunn has previously avoided giving fans a definitive answer about exactly when Peacemaker or the other members of the 11th Street Kids will return.
For now, Cena appears content to wait.
After helping turn one of DC’s more obscure characters into a major live-action fan favorite, Peacemaker may simply be taking a temporary backseat while Gunn continues putting the larger pieces of the DCU into place.
DC Studios’ upcoming Deathstroke and Bane movie finally has a name, with the project currently being developed under the title Savage Hunters.
The title surfaced as part of an internal list of projects at Warner Bros. following the formation of the new Skydance structure. The film appears on the list as “Savage Hunters aka Deathstroke & Bane Movie (DC)” and is categorized as being in early development.
While Savage Hunters is now the name attached to the project, DC Studios has not formally announced it as the movie’s final theatrical title. With the film still in the early stages of development, the title could potentially change before production begins.
The project has been in development since 2024 and is expected to bring two of DC’s most formidable villains together on the big screen. Matthew Orton, whose credits include Moon Knight and Captain America: Brave New World, has been attached to write the screenplay.
[Warner Bros. Pictures]
The movie is one of several DC projects currently listed in early development alongside The Brave and the Bold, Teen Titans, Swamp Thing and the new Wonder Woman movie.
Bane was most famously portrayed by Tom Hardy in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises, while Joe Manganiello previously appeared as Deathstroke in the former DC Extended Universe. Neither actor is currently confirmed to be involved with Savage Hunters.
For now, Savage Hunters gives the long-developing Deathstroke and Bane project its clearest identity yet as DC continues building out its upcoming movie slate.
David Corenswet will be sporting a slightly different Superman suit when he returns as the Man of Steel in James Gunn’s Man of Tomorrow.
While speaking with PEOPLE, Corenswet revealed that some changes have been made to his Superman costume for the upcoming DC Studios film, with the updated design being built with action in mind.
“The suit itself is a little bit different,”
Corenswet said.
According to the actor, the changes aren’t simply cosmetic.
“They re-engineered it to be slightly more functional and ready for a fight.”
David Corenswet as Superman [Warner bros. pictures]
Corenswet also teased that the upcoming film will dig deeper into the dynamic between Superman and Lex. The actor said returning to work alongside Hoult and Rachel Brosnahan felt more relaxed after the trio established their characters and relationships in Superman.
Exactly what “ready for a fight” means for the new suit remains to be seen, but the comment could offer a small indication of what Superman will be facing in Man of Tomorrow. Rather than completely reinventing the costume, Corenswet’s description suggests the filmmakers have refined the existing design to give Superman greater functionality for the action ahead.
Gunn is once again writing and directing the film, which continues Superman’s story within the developing DC Universe.
Man of Tomorrow is currently scheduled to hit theaters on July 9, 2027.
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