There’s been much controversy surrounding the DC Extended Universe since its inception in 2013 with Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel. The divided reaction to the Superman film magnified tremendously when it was announced that Ben Affleck would join the sequel as a hard-boiled Batman in last year’s Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice. While Affleck received praise for his performance, the film was trashed by critics, and it sometimes appears that Warner Bros. and DC do not have their universe in order.

The WB/DC slate is already full with members of the Justice League receiving their own solo films over the next few years, with Aquaman leading the charge as the first release post-Justice League. Nonetheless, audiences want more Batman. They just do. However, the road to a new Bat flick has been quite rocky, though things are beginning to look up.

Following Affleck’s departure from the role of director, Warner Bros. has confirmed that Matt Reeves will take the hot seat for the highly-anticipated feature. Best known for his work on Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, and the upcoming War for the Planet of the Apes, Reeves has been attached to many acclaimed projects over the years and is certainly a welcomed addition to the DCEU.

In a press release, WB’s President and Chief Content Officer Toby Emmerich stated:

“We are thrilled to have Matt Reeves taking the helm of Batman, the crown jewel of our DC slate. Matt’s deep roots in genre films and his evolution into an emotional world-building director make him the perfect filmmaker to guide the Dark Knight through this next journey.”

Although Affleck is not directing, he will continue to serve as a producer, writer, and star in the title role. With Reeve’s War for the Planet of the Apes slated for release this summer, we can probably expect some more information to come as he makes his rounds promoting the action-drama. Until then, the next installment of the DCEU is Patty Jenkins’ Wonder Woman (June 2).

Hang on to your hats and watch Batman save Martha Kent in a clip from Batman V Superman below

Matt Reeves Confirmed For ‘The Batman’