The Batman (lost screenplay from DC Extended Universe version of superhero film; 2016-2017)

Theatrical release poster from the Matt Reeves version of the film.

Status: Lost

The Batman is a 2022 superhero film directed and co-written by Matt Reeves, with Robert Pattinson starring as the titular hero. The film is set outside of DC's main film continuity, the DC Extended Universe (DCEU), however this wasn't always meant to be the case. When the film was first announced it was set in DCEU and had Ben Affleck signed on to direct, produce, co-write, and star. A script of this version was completed but it has never been released.

Background

A solo film starring Ben Affleck as Batman was first announced in October 2014^[1] with Affleck entering negotiations to direct and co-write the screenplay with comic book writer Geoff Johns in July 2015.^[2] By March 2016 Affleck and Johns had finished the first draft of the script^[3] which was a mostly original story^[4] that was specifically influenced by the graphic novel Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth, the comic book storyline "Knightfall", and the video game Batman: Arkham Asylum^[5] with the film being primarily set in Arkham Asylum.^[6] The film would have also explored the death of Batman's first Robin, Dick Grayson, which was hinted at in the previous film Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice.^[3] Next month, Affleck was confirmed to be direct the film.^[7] In January 2017, Chris Terrio turned in a rewrite of Affleck and Johns' script with Affleck announcing that he'd be stepping down as director that same month.^[8] Affleck did this after not he was not able to get the script where he wanted it to be.^[9] By February 2017, Matt Reeves had signed on to replace Affleck as director.^[10] After reading a copy of Affleck's script sent to him by Warner Bros., Reeves deiced to rewrite the film from scratch as Affleck's take was "totally valid" but not the film he wanted to make.^[11]

Known Plot Details

Set after the events of 2017's Justice League,^[2] the film would follow Batman (Bruce Wayne) as deadly assassin Deathstroke (Slade Wilson) tries to systematically destroy his life because Deathstroke believes Batman is responsible for his son's death.^[12] Deathstroke would do this killing those close to the Dark Knight^[12] and by causing a mass breakout at Arkham Asylum to try and wear Batman down^[5] with the film's climax featuring a battle between Deathstroke, Batman, and Batgirl (Barbra Gordon) on the streets of Gotham City.^[13] The film's events would have been set up in a cut Justice League post-credit scene that featured Lex Luthor revealing Batman's secret identity to Deathstroke.^[12] This post-credit scene would later included in the 2021 film, Zack Snyder's Justice League.

Confirmed Cast

Ben Affleck as Bruce Wayne / Batman
Joe Manganiello as Slade Wilson / Deathstroke
Jeremy Irons as Alfred Pennyworth
JK Simmons as Jim Gordon

Availability

Warner Bros. and DC Studios seem to have no interest in releasing the script for the Affleck version of the film however a variety of plot details have been revealed via interviews with Deathstroke actor, Joe Manganiello. In 2022, Keith Christensen released a lot of the concept art he made for this version of the film on his Instagram and ArtStation.^[14] Jay Oliva also tweeted out a storyboard featuring Deathstroke that same year.^[15]