Since the news of Batgirl’s cancellation came to light, Warner Bros. and DC Films have been getting a lot of hate. Their own fan base turned on them, and for good reason. And it did not stop there, as David Zaslav and team have been axing projects left, right, and center, if they did not match their “vision”. So it comes as a pleasant surprise for the fans when it was announced that Matt Reeves signed an exclusive deal with Warner Bros.
The Batman director recently signed a first-look deal with Warner Bros. which gives the studio the right to own all of Reeves’ future projects for a certain period. The exact conditions of the deal have not yet been made public, but this gives some hope to the fans who were left wondering if the Robert Pattinson-starring movies might get shelved in the future like the others.
Matt Reeves – The Saviour?
After the deal went through, Michael De Luca, the CEO of WB Films group put out a statement, saying:
“We’re making an investment for whatever Matt feels a pull toward, in the Batman universe & otherwise. He has an open invitation to go wherever his interests take him”
According to Warner Bros., Matt Reeves will get the backing from the studios to be a cornerstone filmmaker for them. Is it their way of saying Matt Reeves is the new Zack Snyder for DCEU?
HBO Max recently canceled the upcoming Batman: Caped Crusader animated series, which was one of the projects Matt Reeves was working on along with Bruce Timm and JJ Abrams. But there is still some hope regarding the project, as it may be handed over to another network to move forward. Unfortunately, there are no concrete indications of what’s to come in the future.
Related Article: WB Studios Cancels HBO Max’s Batman: Caped Crusader Animated Series – The Spiritual Successor to Cult Classic Batman: The Animated Series
Matt Reeves and his production company 6th and Idaho are already developing quite a few projects under Warner Bros. for HBO Max. And with this new report, it seems like at least those will not be getting the ax anytime soon. We are still getting the Colin Farrell-led Penguin series, and (hopefully) the Arkham Asylum one too.
The Batman Universe to Expand
It has also been reported that now since the deal has been signed, Matt Reeves is going to focus on the next installment of The Batman. This time, writer and filmmaker Mattson Tomlin will be helping him with the project. Tomlin was brought in for the first installment as well, but at the very end, and did not get a writing credit for it. Seems like this time he will be getting his due and possibly more.
The idea is to expand The Batman universe, or at least that is the current chatter. We all know The Batman is not part of the DCEU, at least not yet. But given the fact that Reeves is helming a number of the projects under Warner Bros., let’s not completely let go of the possibility that maybe in the near future these two universes might collide. After all, one of the main reasons Ezra Miller’s The Flash is not getting axed, even after the numerous scandals the star has been in the last couple of months, is because the movie is supposed to introduce the multiverse into the DCEU.
De Luca spoke in an interview with Deadline about the new deal between Warner Bros. and Matt Reeves, saying he and Pamela Abdi, who have been hired recently to overlook the WB Films division, are grateful to get the opportunity in expanding this universe.
“Pam and I gratefully inherited the relationship with Matt from The Batman, and through the beginning stages of planning The Penguin series for HBO Max.”
“We were excited to nail down his overall deal because it’s a cornerstone of what we want to do with the filmmakers that are working at the studio. We want to create an atmosphere where all of these filmmakers can excel and do their work and stay with us once they are inside the Warners family. Keeping Matt and creating a home for him to do more projects in the Batman universe but also originals, was very important to us.”
Reeves himself spoke of the new arrangement, saying:
“Making this legendary studio my home is a dream. I am so excited to be working with Mike, Pam, and Channing [Dungey, chairman of WB TV] and our teams to bring captivating stories I am truly passionate about to the big and small screen.”
DC fans are just happy for some good news, after all the hacking and slashing that went around these last few weeks. And now that Reeves is fully in, we can only hope, that more good news follows.
Currently, Warner Bros. and DC Films are gearing up for the release of Black Adam, which will hit theatres on October 21, 2022.
