Following the news that Ben Affleck had stepped down as director of The Batman (thought to be replaced by Matt Reeves), a new rumour surfaced yesterday that Batfleck could be done with the DCEU all together. This is not the first time this has been rumoured, and this one has come from Collider’s John Campea (who is often on the money). “I’ve talked to three separate people, both in one way or another connected in some way to what’s going on at Warner Bros,” he said. “What all three have told me was that — nothing about whether the script was thrown out or whether they liked the script, nothing about the direction Matt Reeves is taking it, none of that — but one of the things that has come out of the conversation with all three is this. They’re telling me that Ben Affleck, make no mistake, he does want out. He doesn’t want to be Batman anymore, is what I was told.” Read more about that story here.
STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI TRAILER
With Star Wars Celebration this April, the word on the street is this will be our first glimpse at the highly anticipated Star Wars: The Last Jedi. A rumour came out yesterday from Star Wars Net that suggests the trailer will feature Luke Skywalker, Finn, Rey and Leia Organa, which contradicts previous reports that Luke would not feature in the trailer at all, much like he didn’t in Star Wars: The Force Awakens‘ marketing. Read more about that story here.
FIRST GHOSTBUSTERS AND NOW THIS?!
Another Star Wars rumour that cropped up yesterday concerned the Han Solo Anthology movie, which is currently in production. Following on from the report last week that Phoebe Waller-Bridge was in talks to play a CGI role (like Maz in The Force Awakens), Tracking Board are now claiming she will play a female droid in the movie. Urgh, a girl droid?! Stop ruining my childhood Star Wars!** So far the most high profile female droid to date is TC-14, the droid who greeted Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan at the start of the much beloved Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. Read more about that story here.
It seems like it should have been done a long time ago, but Scarlett Johansson spoke yesterday about the possibility of Black Widow getting her own solo movie in the MCU after Avengers 4. “We’re creatively really compatible,” she said. “I think we both agree that the character is right for a standalone, it’s just a case of timing at this point for both Marvel and myself. If I did it, I would dedicate myself completely to making it amazing. It would have to be the best version that movie could possibly be. Otherwise, I would never do it. It needs its own style and its own story, and there’s a lot of great stuff that you could do with it.” Read more about that story here.
BEHIND THE SCENES OF GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2 AND THOR: RAGNAROK
One would assume we’re not too far away from the first trailer for Thor: Ragnarok, as some concept art from a promotional video shown at last year’s SDCC landed online that showed off The God of Thunder and Loki taking on Cate Blanchett’s Hela as well as The Hulk in battle [see that here]. Not only that, but we also got some great behind the scenes photos from the film and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. Read more about that story here.
Freda Cooper sits down with Moonlight director Barry Jenkins, which you can read here.
**This is, of course, a joke.
Originally published February 15, 2017. Updated November 30, 2022.
