After James Gunn announced that he is developing a brand new Superman movie, with Henry Cavill not returning to the role, the trades are sharing even more intel on what he and Peter Safran are planning for their upcoming DC Universe slate, and it sounds extremely exciting.
Multiple sources are reporting that, in addition to Cavill, the new DC bosses also met with 2x Academy Award-winner and former Batman actor Ben Affleck recently to talk to him about the possibility of directing a film in the newly revamped DC Universe, which will launch in earnest in 2024.
Affleck was previously attached to helm a film centered on his version of Batman, where he would've presumably squared off against Deathstroke (Joe Manganiello), but that project was ultimately scrapped in favor of Matt Reeves' vision for The Batman.
While it's doubtful that Gunn and Safran would want Affleck to tackle another Batman film, especially with Reeves already hard at work on a sequel to The Batman as well as a Penguin TV series, we'd imagine the Oscar-winner will be able to pick almost anyone else from the vast DC library to develop a film around. He might even be a contender for Gunn's Superman project.
Before he gets back in the director's chair, Affleck is slated to reprise his role as the Dark Knight for one last adventure in Andy Muschietti's The Flash next summer. However, it sounds like he may no longer appear in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.
In related news, we've also learned that Ta-Nehisi Coates' film about a Black Superman is still very much in development and that Gunn's new Superman movie won't affect its status, at least not for the time being. Coates is still working on the screenplay, and J.J. Abrams remains attached as a producer.