The usually reliable Latino Review is reporting on some interesting new rumors surrounding Warner Brothers’ long-term plans for the expanded cinematic universe it is creating based on DC Comics’ stable of iconic superheroes.

The first is that Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice star Ben Affleck will possibly both direct and star in The Batman, a reboot of the Dark Knight franchise. His Oscar-winning Argo scribe Chris Terrio (who also worked on the scripts for Dawn of Justice and the studio’s Justice League feature — the latter of which will be released in two parts with the first tentatively scheduled for a late 2017 release and the second for the summer of 2019) will write the script for a possible November 2018 theatrical release. This would put the most popular DC character in direct conflict with Marvel Studios’ eagerly awaited Captain Marvel, which will be their first female-headed blockbuster event.

Almost two weeks ago, Warner Bros.’ possible long-term film plans for their DC Comics properties was leaked and included theoretical solo movies for Wonder Woman, Sandman, and Shazam; a Flash/Green Lantern team-up movie; a Man of Steel sequel; and the inevitable Justice League. These plans naturally hinge on the expected success of the company’s summer 2016 entry Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice. What didn’t make the cut was the new Batman solo movie everyone knows will happen eventually, which seemed mighty odd at first until a few days ago when rumors began to spread that another cinematic reboot of the Dark Knight was being planned for 2019 and could be potentially be titled The Batman.

When The Batman does eventually get made, star Ben Affleck‘s involvement will be assured due to his multi-film contract, and another actor is already throwing his hat into the ring as a casting choice for the Caped Crusader’s famous sidekick, Robin — Daniel Radcliffe

With Zack Snyder currently filming Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice, how Warner Brothers moves forward with their DC Cinematic Universe after that is unclear. The rumored schedule, which runs until 2018, includes titles based on characters like Wonder Woman, Flash/Green Lantern, Shazam, and Sand Man, but the one thing that schedule didn’t have was a solo Batman film. Something that comes off as a bit of a shock considering that Ben Affleck signed a multi-pic deal.

While we will definitely see him in Dawn of Justice and Justice League, a new rumor says that we could see a solo Batman film as early as 2019. There’s even a working title: The Batman. Now all of this is, of course, just a rumor. Hit the jump for more info.

Yesterday, our magnificent man with the news eelyajekiM reported that next summer’s Superman reboot Man of Steel may play a vital role in leading into the long-awaited 2015 release of Justice League. If that’s the case, then Warner Bros. has decided to take a page from the Marvel Studios’ playbook and use their solo superhero films to build up to the team-up epic, a formula that proved to be a surefire winner when you look at the grosses for The Avengers.

Anyone who’s been following the development and production of Man of Steel and its dovetailing with the release of The Avengers could have guessed by now that the new Superman, played by Henry Cavill, would naturally be leading the League when they make their big screen bow in three summers, around the same time The Avengers 2 hits movie screens. What wasn’t so obvious was who the studio would pick to play Batman seeing as how the Christopher Nolan-directed Dark Knight trilogy has concluded and Christian Bale doesn’t appear to be willing to be a team player in the Justice League since Nolan won’t be involved.

With the grand finale of Grant Morrison‘s epic run on DC Comics’ Batman and Robin, along comes the birth of a brand new status quo in the DC Universe, and if you haven’t read Batman and Robin #16, which came out today, go get the issue, read it, and come back, because SPOILERS…

In the issue, Bruce Wayne holds a press conference where he reveals that he is the main funding officer for The Dark Knight.

Although, some mainstream media used headlines and stories to make it appear as though Bruce Wayne declared himself as The Batman, he simply said that he had been secretly supporting and funding his technology, as well as creating a new division of Wayne enterprises called Batman, Incorporated, which just so happens to be the title for the upcoming Grant Morrison Batman comic.