Ben Affleck Reportedly Said No To Directing Flashpoint
Batfleck apparently didn't want to buddy up with Barry Allen again.
On Tuesday, it was announced that John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, the scriptwriting creatives behind Spider-Man: Homecoming, had been tapped to direct DC and Warner Bros.' in-development movie Flashpoint. Variety was the first to break the news in an exclusive report that also contained another bit of information arguably just as intruiging as the confirmation of Daley and Goldstein's directorial duties.
The outlet reports that before the Homecoming duo boarded the Flash film, Ben Affleck was approached to direct. Ultimately, Affleck, who has portrayed billionaire hero Bruce Wayne/Batman in the DC Extended Universe since 2016's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, "passed on the gig" for reasons unknown.
Flashpoint was first set up with The LEGO Batman Movie scribe and It producer Seth Grahame-Smith as director and writer, but he parted ways with the project due to creative differences in April of 2016. Dope helmer Rick Famuyiwa was the next filmmaker appointed to direct the standalone, though sadly, the same sequence of events happened: Famuyiwa too stepped down in light of irreconcilable creative differences with those working on the film.
It remains to be seen why Affleck turned down the offer, but it isn't entirely shocking that he would deny a directing job given that he was previously attached to direct, write, and star in the solo Batman movie and eventually pulled out. The actor-filmmaker's connection to the project, which now has writer-director Matt Reeves on board in place of Affleck behind the camera, fizzled when he exited as director and then cast doubt on whether he'd even appear in the movie. Affleck's relationship with and future in the DC Extended Universe and Warner Bros.' DC Films projects altogether has been rendered an enigma as a result.
What's much less of a mystery is what's going on with Flashpoint. In addition to new directors Daley and Goldstein, the project has Joby Harold (King Arthur: Legend of the Sword) as its scribe, and Ezra Miller (Justice League) and Kiersey Clemons (Dope, Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising) as the leads Barry Allen/The Flash and Barry's love interest, Iris Allen.
Flashpoint is anticipated to zoom into cinemas in 2020, but a concrete release date has yet to be announced. As for what Affleck has cooking up in the DCEU, his metaphorical kitchen is clearly a pretty big mess at the moment.