Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice didn't get rave reviews. Nor, in fact, did Suicide Squad.
So it's perhaps not that surprising that Ben Affleck - who has so far proved himself as an excellent director with Gone, Baby, Gone, The Town and Argo - would be reluctant to sign on to something he doesn't entirely believe in.
Talking to The Guardian ahead of the release of Live by Night, which Affleck directed and stars in, he said that Bruce Wayne standalone The Batman wasn't set in stone and may not happen with him at the helm at all, certainly if the script isn't up to scratch.
When asked about the project, he said, "That's the idea. But it's not a set thing and there's no script. If it doesn't come together in a way I think is really great, I'm not going to do it."
He's been attached to direct for some time and suggested that shooting would be due to start this spring.
The film will follow on from Justice League, which sees Affleck's Caped Crusader assembling a super team including Aquaman, The Flash and Cyborg, as well as already assembled Wonder Woman and in-some-way-back-from-the-dead Superman.
In the tentatively-titled The Batman, Bats is due to face off against Joe Manganiello as Deathstroke, who Affleck has said will "match up" to Batman really well.
Next from DC, heading our way in June, is Wonder Woman, though Batman won't be appearing given that it's set in WWI. Perhaps Grampa Wayne might have an appearance?
Until then look out for Live by Night, in UK cinemas on 13 January.
