'The Batman' Director Matt Reeves: 'It's a Standalone, It's Not Part of the Extended Universe'

Matt Reeves, director of the upcoming “The Batman,” says the film won’t be a part of the DC Extended Universe that includes the Justice League and Wonder Woman, but rather a standalone Bat-story.

In an interview with Los Angeles’ KCRW, the filmmaker said: “Well, I have a vision for a way to do something with that character that feels like it resonates with me personally, and a perspective that can grow out into other things. When they [Warner Bros.] approached me, what they said was ‘look, it’s a standalone, it’s not part of the extended universe.'”

The filmmaker has previously said he set aside an original script written by Ben Affleck and DC entertainment president Geoff Johns, and is “starting again” on a completely new take. “No. It’s a new story. It’s just starting again. I’m excited about it. I think it’s going to be really cool,” Reeves told MTV’s Happy Sad Confused podcast last month.

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Affleck and Johns wrote their script while the “Argo” Oscar-winner was still set to direct as well as star in “The Batman.”

The concept envisioned by Affleck and Johns featured Deathstroke the Terminator as the main villain, and Joe Manganiello was hired to play the supervillain. Whether that’s still the case remains to be seen, and Manganiello himself recently said he isn’t sure if he’s still in “The Batman.”

DC Films 'Justice League': What We Know So Far (Photos)

"Justice League" is exactly a year away as the film will be released in theaters on Nov. 17, 2017. Here's what we know so far.
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Ben Affleck will return as Batman and have an upgraded Tactical Batsuit along with enhancements to the Batmobile.
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Gal Gadot will return as Wonder Woman and work with Batman to recruit other metahumans to fight off an intergalactic threat.
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Henry Cavill will return as Superman after he “died” in the climactic battle of "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice." Exactly how, remains unknown.
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Ezra Miller will star as Barry Allen a.k.a. "The Flash" and feature a costume created by Bruce Wayne's Wayne Tech.
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Jason Momoa will star as Aquaman and play the metahuman most reluctant to join the "Justice League." We will also get a first look at Atlantis.
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Ray Fisher will star as Cyborg whose suit will be made from alien technology. Cyborg has two modes: Battle Mode and also a civilian mode.
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Amber Heard will star as Mera, Queen of Atlantis and will reprise her role in the "Aquaman" standalone film.
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J.K. Simmons will play Gotham City's Commissioner Gordon and alert the "Justice League" about the Alien threat which is kidnapping scientists around Earth.
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Darkseid's presence will loom large in "Justice League" as the film's prologue introduces the New God while ancient Amazonians, Atlanteans, and pre-historic humans fight him off Earth.
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New God Steppenwolf will be the main villain in "Justice League" and be portrayed by "Game of Thrones" Ciaran Hinds as TheWrap exclusively reported.
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A member of the Green Lantern Corps. will be seen in "Justice League" in a key sequence.
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There are three motherboxes on Earth in the care of the Amazonians, mankind, and the Atlanteans. Steppenwolf comes to Earth to retrieve them.
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Assassin Deathstroke will make a small cameo in "Justice League." Joe Maganiello will play the character before reprising the role in "The Batman."
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If you enjoyed this gallery, check out 14 Biggest Superhero Movies Opening in 2017, From ‘Power Rangers’ to ‘Wonder Woman’ (Photos)