Matt Reeves has talked a lot about being hesitant to take on a movie as big as The Batman. His lack of interest in diving into the DCEU resulted in the filmmaker setting this Dark Knight's story in its own Batverse, and, as you might expect, he's not looking to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
"I have such respect for Kevin Feige and also for the [Marvel] filmmakers," Reeves stressed to Variety. "But to be honest with you, I just don’t know how I would make my way through that."
"There has to be some level of discovery for me, where I have some freedom to find my way," he said, referring to the MCU's detailed continuity. "If I have to come into something that’s already set too firmly, then I think I would get lost. And I don’t think they would be happy with me either."
It's become apparent in recent years that filmmakers need a deep knowledge of Marvel Studios' catalogue of movies and TV shows to fully embrace the intricacies of this world. If being thrown into that particular pool doesn't appeal to Reeves, then that's fair enough, especially if he's looking to primarily tell original stories like the one showcased in The Batman (read our review here).
As for why Reeves did decide to tackle a huge blockbuster, he added: "The industry has changed so dramatically that if you’re going to make a movie that’s going to be in movie theaters, you’re not making anything that isn’t recognizable IP. That’s just where the audience has gone. I’m not saying that I’m happy about that. I’m just saying it is what it is."
It's a shame we won't see The Batman director helm a movie for Marvel Studios, but his next few years look set to be extremely busy in the Batverse. Along with a rumoured big screen trilogy, there are at least two HBO Max spinoffs in the works and likely more to come as this world continues to expand.
The Batman arrives in theaters this evening and opens wide tomorrow, March 4.