Why The Batman Director Will Never Make a Marvel Movie
The Batman director Matt Reeves reveals why he will never make a Marvel movie. Reeves first gained recognition for the WB drama Felicity, which he co-developed with J.J. Abrams, though he later burst onto the scene for directing the hit found-footage monster film Cloverfield in 2018. Reeves is also known for his critically-acclaimed entries into the recent Planet of the Apes trilogy starring Andy Serkis – 2014's Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and 2017's War for the Planet of the Apes.
In 2017, Reeves was hired to write and direct a Batman movie that was intended to be a part of the DC Extended Universe. He took over the position from Ben Affleck, who planned to stay involved as a producer and star before exiting the project entirely. As a result, Reeves reworked the film with co-writer Peter Craig to take place outside the DCEU and focus on a younger version of Bruce Wayne, casting Robert Pattinson in the lead role. Now, with The Batman's release right around the corner, Reeves has been making the rounds fielding questions on everything from his future endeavors to his thoughts on the filmmaking industry at large.
In a recent profile by Variety, Reeves revealed why he will likely never cross over from DC and make a Marvel movie. However, it isn't due to a dislike of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, its filmmakers, or Kevin Feige, but a lack of creative freedom which Reeves feels would hinder his ability as a director. Read what Reeves had to say below:
I have such respect for Kevin Feige and also for the [Marvel] filmmakers. 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. 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.
The Batman director went on to share his thoughts on the changing industry as a whole, lamenting how audiences only seem interested in seeing movies in theaters that are based on recognizable IP. This is something Reeves has struggled with throughout the majority of his career, which began with the romantic-comedy The Pallbearer in 1996. For years after Cloverfield became a surprise hit, Reeves turned down multiple offers to direct tentpoles, opting instead for the smaller-budget romantic-horror film Let Me In as his next project in 2010.
Despite Reeves' resistance to franchise filmmaking, he was ironically hired to helm two Planet of the Apes movies, which were well-received. Now, The Batman is garnering rave reviews and appears to be the start of a new trilogy (and Batverse), as Reeves is currently developing two spinoffs series for HBO Max. For now, the director doesn't see his creative vision aligning with the MCU, which is much more quippy and lighthearted compared to his dark and brooding depiction of Gotham City.
Source: Variety