Ben Affleck‘s disinterest in directing The Batman has been well-documented since he was courted to direct the standalone film. And while we are left to figure out what his future is in the DCEU, there are reports that he was also courted to direct another DCEU film. And guess what? He turned down that film as well.

A new report says Affleck was tapped to direct Flashpoint, DC’s standalone for The Flash. This following the news that John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein were hired to direct the film. More on the story below.

Variety was the first to report on the news, which was actually about Daley and Goldstein’s hiring. Buried within the report is news that Affleck was courted to direct the film. The report doesn’t give any specific reason why he passed on the opportunity, but it doesn’t cast a positive light on the relationship between him and the DCEU.

For one thing, he was unofficially signed on to direct The Batman, appearing alongside other DCEU directors in 2016. In the months following Affleck’s eventual departure came reports that the film had serious script issues and there was a major script overhaul. Eventually, Affleck would walk away from The Batman, and Matt Reeves would board as director.

But Affleck’s relationship with the DCEU has always been shaky. He has expressed a disinterest in playing the role of Batman and has gone on record saying he was looking for a graceful exit. Obviously, the time traveling Flashpoint film could have given him that chance to get out.

Affleck wouldn’t be the first director to pass on the gig either. Seth Grahame-Smith and Rick Famuyiwa were both in line to direct the film. However, both left due to creative differences. Phil Lord and Chris Miller, who wrote a treatment for the film, were also considered to direct before they took a pass to direct Solo: A Star Wars Story. Variety also says Joby Harold has turned in a new draft after a page-one rewrite.

We’ll just have to wait and see if WB will oblige Affleck’s request to exit the DCEU. Or if the film can entice the actor to stay. The Flash movie will presumably start shooting as soon as Ezra Miller, who played the character in Justice League, is done with filming Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.

Flashpoint is tentatively scheduled for a 2020 release.

[Source: Variety]