In a new interview with Los Angeles radio station KCRW, director Matt Reeves indicated that the planned Caped Crusader movie will not be part of the DC Extended Universe, which links together "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice," "Wonder Woman," "Justice League," and "Aquaman."
"When [Warner Bros.] approached me, what they said was, 'Look, it's a standalone, it's not part of the extended universe,'" Reeves explained.
Already "The Batman" project has undergone significant changes since it was just a twinkle in Warner Bros. executives' eyes. First, Ben Affleck, who played Bruce Wayne in "Batman v Superman," was set to write and direct. Then, he stepped down as director.
Reeves was brought in, and he decided to set aside Affleck and DC Comics writer Geoff Johns' script. That was followed by rumors that Affleck might not reprise the role (his own brother, Casey Affleck, said as much).
That "The Batman" could kick off a completely different Bat-verse from the DCEU is even more likely, since Warner Bros. announced a Joker origin story movie that also is not part of the DCEU. (The Joker won't be played by "Suicide Squad" star Jared Leto.)
Could we have two Batmans played by two actors at the same time? Stayed tune to this Bat channel.