What THE BATMAN Director Matt Reeves Had to Say About Almost Helming MAN OF STEEL

Director Matt Reeves has made his mark on the superhero world with his dark and well-made 2022 film The Batman. The movie was well-received by fans and critics alike, and we are looking forward to its 2027 sequel.

While we wait, a resurfaced interview with the filmmaker has made the rounds wherein Reeves talks about another DC superhero, perhaps THE DC superhero who is most beloved of them all, at least right up there with Batman.

Way back in 2010, Christopher Nolan—who directed his own astounding Batman trilogy, and could be considered the driving force behind the Superman reboot during its initial stages—personally met with a handful of directors for what would become the Superman film Man of Steel. 

In Nolan’s process, Reeves was one of the finalists to helm the project. Others among him included Jonathan Liebesman (2014's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), Tony Scott (The Last Boy Scout), Duncan Jones (Warcraft), and Zack Snyder.

Snyder went on to land the gig, but Reddit users u/Edgestan2021 and u/EngineeringBig662 recently resurfaced an interview from the time Reeves was being considered for the project, in which the director revealed his thoughts on both the Superman reboot and on the character himself.

ComicBook reports that in 2010, Matt Reeves sat down for an interview with Animation World Network to promote his film Let Me In. The interview was conducted right around the time that Reeves was being considered to direct what would become Man of Steel.

The director was asked his thoughts on Superman. He denied having had a meeting with Christopher Nolan, but stated he was flattered to be on the shortlist of directors for the project, saying:

"Well, I think it's an amazing story and can be incredibly interesting to do. It's not true that I have actually had any meetings with Chris Nolan. And I know that people are looking at the movie over at Warner Bros., but I don't know if it has anything to do with that. It was flattering and cool to be on that list, and I have tremendous respect for Chris Nolan."

The interviewer stated that Superman was very different than Batman, and asked Reeves for his take on the Clark Kent character. Reeves described him as "an outsider" and a "freak of sorts," and stated there was something about the Superman mythos that connected with him: 

"I think it speaks to an American optimism, but he's also an outsider and a freak of sorts, and, I don't know, there's something great in the myth. I'm drawn to it. To me, that's what this story was.

“Lindqvist created a great vampire myth that was about something else, and I think the only thing that would interest me in a personal involvement on that project was, to me, finding the subtext that had some resonance, and there's no question that that film is going to be a real challenge, but I think with those smart people involved there's a chance they'll do something very interesting with it."

As it turns out, years later, while filming The Batman, Reeves would get to contribute his own piece of Superman lore within the story he told. During production of the movie, set pictures came out showing what looked like a Halloween party.

The photos featured partygoers dressed as Wonder Woman and Superman, which sent fans into speculation, as they wondered about the project's potential connection to a wider DC Universe. 

The scene didn't make it into the final cut, but it was nonetheless a fun Easter egg. I can’t wait to see what else is done with Reeves’ dark and gritty Batman in the next chapter of his story. 

The Batman Part II is scheduled to hit theaters on October 1, 2027.