Warner Bros. has had a rough time keeping directors involved in the DC Extended Universe. The Flash is on a search for its third director, but the bigger story concerns The Batman. After months of a wavering opinion as to whether or not he would direct the film, Ben Affleck announced he was stepping down from the director’s chair.

The fallout has placed Dawn of the Planet of the Apes director Matt Reeves in position to take over. Reeves’ involvement has been a comforting sign for some after Affleck stepped down, but if the latest rumor is true, Warner Bros. is already interested in keeping him around well past The Batman.

This new rumor comes from an anonymous Reddit user (via Screen Geek), which is an easy indicator to take the following with a grain of salt. According to this rumor, Warners is currently negotiating a multi-picture deal with Reeves that will lock him in to direct future projects. The specifics of the deal would reportedly give Reeves major power in the casting process, and would likely see him stay involved with the DCEU well past 2020.

This would be a big sign of confidence on Warners’ part to lock Reeves in  for multiple projects. Whether those future projects would be sequels to the Batman film, Justice League, or a solo adventure for another hero is as much point of speculation as this deal.

If this rumor is true, Reeves could find himself as one of the key architects of the DCEU moving forward. Considering how the burgeoning superhero universe is reportedly trying to correct course, bringing on a creative talent like Reeves would likely be in both Warners and DC’s best interests. His skill as a director, and ability to balance character drama with intricate and oftentimes necessary CGI makes Reeves something of a rare commodity in that he hasn’t yet been scooped up to take the reins on another superhero franchise – especially with a rival studio like Marvel.

Of course it all comes down to Reeves’ interest in moving forward with Warner Bros. on the DCEU. If it is true that the studio is willing to give him plenty of decision-making power when it comes to casting, then it seems as though they’ll do whatever it takes to sweeten the pot in order to land a top-notch talent and ensure he’s a part of their cinematic universe’s future.

Next: The Batman: Would Ben Affleck Quitting Be a Surprise?

Source: Reddit (via Screen Geek)

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