Thanks to the enormous critical and box office success of the batter, CEO Matt Reeves is now recognized as one of the best and most sought-after executives in the industry. Like directors like Christopher Nolan and Denis Villeneuve, Reeves is a filmmaker with the space for epic storytelling.
With his new blanket deal with Warner Brothers and The Batman 2 seemingly moving forward, it seems that the beleaguered studio is putting all their faith in Matt Reeves. But will it last? This all depends on how Reeves plans to interact with Batman and other potential DC characters, as well as original features.
Reeves can create big franchises for Warner Bros.
There is no doubt that Reeves can accomplish great projects for Warner Brothers. His take on the Caped Crusader was one of the best films of 2022, creating not only an entertaining superhero photo, but a compelling detective story. He makes Robert Pattinson’s Batman an intelligent but flawed hero who still has a lot to learn, leaving room for at least a few sequels for a trilogy, or more, depending on how far Reeves wants his series to go.
apart from a Batman sequel in the works, there is also an HBO Max series based on Colin Farrell’s portrayal of Oswald Cobblepot/Penguin, which could be a great crime drama/gangster saga. A series on Arkham Asylum is also planned, which could reveal the backstories of several other DC villains such as Joker and Poison Ivy. Zoë Kravitz’s Catwoman and Paul Dano’s Riddler could also be part of these projects or be separate projects to continue their respective storylines.
Reeves has the potential to create major franchises based on DC superheroes and villains for Warner Brothers, leading the production company on the road to success. Aside from the superhero genre, Reeves plans to direct other films as well, which shouldn’t be a problem given the accolades he’s received for his Planet of the Apes movies starring Andy Serkis. The filmmaker could take on other sci-fi and apocalyptic roles based on the concept of humans versus nature, as well as how humanity is coping with real-world changes (viruses, pandemics, war, climate change, etc.).
Reeves may also be returning to the horror genre, especially since the original clover field movie is considered a unique take on the Monster/creature feature. He may return to the clover field franchise (or “Cloververse”) because the third film was not as well received compared to its predecessors. A fourth film is currently in development and the series is distributed by Paramount Pictures. However, Reeves could argue for directing new clover field own episodes for Warner Brothers, and/or both production companies can join forces (as Warner Brothers, MGM and New Line Cinema did for the hobbit trilogy).
What does Reeves’ deal mean for other filmmakers and projects?
Reeves’ future with Warner Brothers will likely be a long-term relationship, reminiscent of other successful directors such as Christopher Nolan, Zack Snyder and Clint Eastwood. However, this could pose competition problems for other filmmakers, especially those who plan to shoot superhero shots. Currently Warner Brothers is under enormous scrutiny for its lack of trust, transparency and trust by canceling projects such as the highly anticipated batgirl film by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah (the directors of Bad boys for life).
the cancellation of batgirlthe uncertainty surrounding The flash movie because of Ezra Miller’s behavior and allegations of abuse, and several comic book fans who want Snyder to be Justice League saga starring Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill as Batman and Superman, respectively, are big questions looming over the future of Warner Brothers and DC movies. Despite these concerns, Matt Reeves is unlikely to be negatively affected by his distinguished repertoire as a filmmaker. His involvement with Warner Brothers could have a major impact on his expression and allowing other directors and actors to get their chance to tackle important projects.
Should there be a chance that one of Reeves’ films will not be successful, both financially and critically, he still has chances to recover. This is why, most likely, the director will not only shoot superhero pictures, but also be part of other genres. For example, Zack Snyder was able to make at least a few DC movies before probably ending his superhero series with his director’s cut of Justice League. After that, Snyder returned to the horror/zombie genre with Army of the Dead (a hit for the director and for Netflix). Reeves will also try to get spectators both on streaming services and, more importantly, in theaters so that his feature films can also be watched on the big screen.
Reeves’ time at Warner Brothers could span several years, not only because of his versatility as a director, but also through crucial partnerships. Andy Serkis has now worked with Reeves on three films: two Planet of the Apes movies and the batter. Reeves can continue to rely on Serkis for future Batman films thanks to the actor’s powerful turn as Alfred Pennyworth. The director can also use Serkis in other action or dramatic features (especially those involving motion capture CGI, which is Serkis’ area of expertise).
It’s safe to say that Reeves made an easy choice to strike a long-term deal with Warner Brothers. He can expand his reputation with: The Batman 2 and other DC projects, as well as new content. Reeves most likely won’t be part of the DCEU, but he could inspire a new wave of superhero movies while retaining the old-fashioned qualities of moviemaking and storytelling.
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