It's Official - Ben Affleck Will NOT Direct The Batman

It's Official - Ben Affleck Will NOT Direct The Batman

Hollywood Actor Finally Ends Speculation

By Alex Burns

We can finally put to bed one of the longest and most click-baiting rumour mills of recent memory as today Ben Affleck confirms he will indeed NOT be directing the next solo Batman film. In an interview with Variety the Oscar-winning director explained in a statement why he was no longer suitable for the project. Check it out in full below.

“There are certain characters who hold a special place in the hearts of millions,” Affleck said in a statement. “Performing this role demands focus, passion and the very best performance I can give. It has become clear that I cannot do both jobs to the level they require. Together with the studio, I have decided to find a partner in a director who will collaborate with me on this massive film. I am still in this, and we are making it, but we are currently looking for a director. I remain extremely committed to this project, and look forward to bringing this to life for fans around the world.”

Warner Bros. Pictures added: “Warner Bros. fully supports Ben Affleck’s decision and remains committed to working with him to bring a standalone Batman picture to life.”

Now the search for a new director begins and it will be really interesting to see how quickly an official announcement follows. In our opinion, Warner Bros. have favoured speed over quality with their recent DC comics live-action films and time will tell if the negative critical reaction to their attempts at an extended DC universe on screen will affect their upcoming projects in a good way. 

Variety also mention there is a shortlist of possible directors and they are hearing that War for the Planet of the Apes director Matt Reeves is among those on the list.

There's very little information on how the plot of the film will unfold, but what we do know is that Joe Manganiello will play Slade Wilson, aka Deathstroke and Jeremy Irons is expected to return as Alfred with J.K. Simmons cast as a new version of Commissioner Gordon are expected to happen as well.

If you read this site regularly and listen to our podcast you'll know full well that we made a decision early on to not report on rumours and speculation like the "Ben Affleck directing Batman" saga and while we may get less traffic, we certainly feel vindicated when something official is actually announced and we've been right on the money.

We'll be talking more about this statement on the next podcast, you can still catch Ben Affleck as Batman later this year in Justice League - set for release November 17th

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Behind the Brick - The LEGO Batman Movie Promo

Behind the Brick - The LEGO Batman Movie Promo

Totally Awesome

By Sam Burns

Check out this new promo for The LEGO Batman Movie!


In the irreverent spirit of fun that made “The LEGO® Movie” a worldwide phenomenon, the self-described leading man of that ensemble – LEGO Batman – stars in his own big-screen adventure. But there are big changes brewing in Gotham, and if he wants to save the city from The Joker’s hostile takeover, Batman may have to drop the lone vigilante thing, try to work with others and maybe, just maybe, learn to lighten up.

The LEGO Batman Movie hits theatres February 10, 2017.

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A Warrior's Stare - New Logan Poster

A Warrior's Stare - New Logan Poster

Years Gone By...

By Steven Carter

Check out this grizzly close up of Hugh Jackman as Logan! The new poster offers a pretty rough-around-the-edges glimpse of how unkind time has been to our hero after years of epic battles as the Wolverine.

Set in 2024, Logan and Professor Charles Xavier must cope with the loss of the X-Men at the hands of a corporation led by Nathaniel Essex. With Logan's healing abilities slowly fading and Xavier's Alzheimer's hampering his memory, Logan must defeat Essex with the help of a young girl named Laura Kinney, a female clone of Wolverine.


Listen to why we are so excited for Logan in the podcast below - be sure to subscribe!

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Square Enix and Marvel Announce The Avengers Videogame!

Square Enix and Marvel Announce The Avengers Videogame!

The World Still Needs Heroes

By Alex Burns

Now this is awesome news! Marvel Entertainment have announced they will be partnering with Square Enix and developers Crystal Dynamics and Eidos Montréal  to release a series of upcoming games based on their iconic characters! The first officially announced project will feature Earth's Mightiest Heroes in The Avengers Project. Take a look at the announcement trailer below.


Pretty stirring stuff eh? It will be seriously interesting to see how this original story unfolds and just what caused the Avengers to divide in the first place, we can't wait to see what causes them to "reassemble".

Check out the official press release below:

“By partnering with Crystal Dynamics and Eidos-Montréal, we are now working with two of the industry’s most talented and respected game development studios to bring Marvel stories to life in ways our fans have never experienced,“ said Jay Ong, Senior Vice President, Games & Innovation, Marvel Entertainment. “The Avengers project is a perfect example of how Marvel is making games a key part of the landscape for Marvel storytelling, alongside comics, television and film. We can only do this by matching our greatest Super Heroes with the world’s top developers, such as the creative minds at Square Enix.”

“Marvel’s diverse, innovative universe has created millions of longtime fans, including all of us,” said Phil Rogers, CEO, Square Enix Americas and Europe. “It’s exciting to bring together Square Enix’s award-winning development studios with Marvel’s extraordinary storytellers to establish a new entertainment powerhouse. This collaboration of passion and talent will craft epic, imaginative experiences allowing gamers to live out their Super Hero dreams like never before.”

The Avengers project is being designed for gamers worldwide and will be packed with all the characters, environments, and iconic moments that have thrilled longtime fans of the franchise. Featuring a completely original story, it will introduce a universe that gamers can play in for years to come. More details on The Avengers project and other games will be announced in 2018.

The talent involved here is pretty eye-watering and Marvel look to be finally getting their ducks in a row after lagging behind on the videogame for quite some time. DC Comics have enjoyed enormous success with their characters being adapted into videogames over the last decade and we've been eagerly awaiting Marvel to join the fun. Joining Marvel are the some big players in the world of gaming - Square Enix are responsible for the blockbuster Final Fantasy games and I'm currently having a blast with the 15th instalment in the franchise and Eidos Montréal worked with Crystal Dynamics on the recent Tomb Raider titles and the insanely awesome prequel Deus Ex titles. I'm in love with this news, what do you think?

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New Avengers: Ultron - Revoloution Promos

New Avengers: Ultron - Revoloution Promos

Action on Disney XD

By Steven Carter

Prepare for all-new Avengers adventures with these Disney XD promos!

The Avengers, along with their new teammate Red Hulk, must stop the Leader from building and unleashing his secret perfect weapon!

The Avengers must stop an out-of-control Red Hulk as he threatens to destroy an entire town!

Catch new episodes on Disney XD!

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Batman vs Robin - New Injustice 2 Trailer!

Batman vs Robin - New Injustice 2 Trailer!

Master vs Student

By Alex Burns

NetherRealm Studios have added Robin to the roster of playable DC Comics characters featuring in Injustice 2! There's an epic gameplay trailer to go with the reveal that pits the boy wonder against his former ally - Batman!


The line between hero and villain has become blurred as the most epic battle in the DC universe rages on in Injustice 2. While Batman has emerged the victor in his battle against the Regime, a new threat arises and poses the ultimate threat to Earth.

Check out our latest thoughts on Injustice 2 in our latest podcast! Be sure to subscribe!

If you want to listen to the Cape and Cowl Cast on-the-go then download the Podcast at Podbean for free - also available on iTunes

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New Justice League Image Revealed - High-Res

New Justice League Image Revealed - High-Res

Roll Call

By Alex Burns

Check out a brand new shot of Batman, The Flash, Cyborg and Wonder Woman in Zack Snyder's upcoming superhero team-up film - Justice League. The image (click to enlarge) revealed by EMPIRE shows the iconic DC Comics heroes in the same underground lair we've seen teased in the trailer and other official photos. What awaits our heroes in the dark depths?




Justice League is set for release November 17th 2017.

Join us for our 2017 preview special where we chat about Justice League and the other awesome film in store for 2017!

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New Logan Cover, Images and Comic Revealed

New Logan Cover, Images and Comic Revealed

Until the End

By Steven Carter

The ever awesome EMPIRE have revealed a flurry of new Logan images in their latest issue plus a closer look at the X-Men comic glimpsed in the latest trailer reveal. Check out the goods and more info on the final Hugh Jackman Wolverine film below!

The comic was created especially for the film (due to some legal barriers between Marvel and Fox) and the art was by none other than the legendary Joe Quesada.

“It was a blast working closely with James Mangold on creating these pages (yes, there’s more than one) and thrilled to have been invited on the project,” said Quesada.

Set in 2024, Logan and Professor Charles Xavier must cope with the loss of the X-Men at the hands of a corporation led by Nathaniel Essex. With Logan's healing abilities slowly fading and Xavier's Alzheimer's hampering his memory, Logan must defeat Essex with the help of a young girl named Laura Kinney, a female clone of Wolverine.

Directed by James Mangold, Logan is set for release March 3, 2017

Listen to why we are so excited for Logan in the podcast below - Logan chat begins at 00:09:45 - be sure to subscribe!



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Cape and Cowl Cast #54 - Conversations on The Legend of Zelda, Green Lantern Corps, Power Rangers, Injustice 2 & More!

Cape and Cowl Cast #54 - Conversations on The Legend of Zelda, Green Lantern Corps, Power Rangers, Injustice 2 & More!

Brand New Episode!

By Alex Burns

Join Alex, Steve and Sam as they dive into some of the most awesome news from the last few weeks! Big highlights include a speculation session on the not-too-long to wait for Power Rangers and Logan films, plus a discussion on the further afield Green Lantern Corps movie. The team also dive deep into debate on the Nintendo Switch and how awesome The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild looks, while not forgetting Injustice 2 and even more news!



If you want to listen to the Cape and Cowl Cast on-the-go then download the Podcast at Podbean for free - also available on iTunes

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Confirmed! Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Confirmed! Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Episode VIII Has a Title

By Franco Dionisio

Walt Disney Studios and Lucasfilm have today announced that Star Wars: The Last Jedi will be the title for the eighth instalment of the iconic Star Wars Saga. The first official poster for Episode VIII has also been revealed in classic fashion and now the speculation goes into overdrive as to what the title could mean for the future of the franchise.

Check out an official statement from the studio to go with the news:

"We have the greatest fans in this or any other galaxy. In appreciation of the fans, we wanted them to be the first to know the title of the next chapter in the Skywalker saga: 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi', "

The emphasis here is certainly on the Skywalker name and with Kylo-Ren still tumbling on the Darkside following the events of The Force Awakens and Rey's parentage still in question, we are eager to see how pivotal a role Mark Hamill's Luke Skywalker will play in the film. He was certainly referenced as The Last Jedi in both the crawl of The Force Awakens and by Lord Snoke as well - “The droid will soon be delivered to the Resistance… leading them to the last Jedi,” so we are putting safe money down that Luke Skywalker is indeed the last remaining Jedi after a failed attempt to revive the Jedi ways. Let's just hope the blood red font colour doesn't mean anything ominous for our hero...

Now we are also ignoring the fact that Jedi is both the plural and singular term for people who are pretty handy with a lightsaber, so The Last Jedi may refer to both Luke and Rey or a whole plethora of new heroes! Let the fan theories commence! 

As for how The Last Jedi will begin:

“I don’t want to skip ahead two years. I want to see the very next moment of what happens,” said Director, Rian Johnson to USA Today earlier this month, “a large part of the movie” will be exploring Luke’s mysterious circumstances — how he ended up where he is, what he’ll do next — and that Rey will be trying to understand and explore her powers. “She’s taking her first step to coming to terms with this thing inside her that she never knew was there and is just starting to reveal its potential,”

Star Wars: The Last Jedi is set for release in theaters worldwide on December 15, 2017.

Listen to why we are so excited for The Last Jedi and a whole bunch of other huge films in the podcast below - be sure to subscribe!

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Teen Titans: Judas Contact First Look

Teen Titans: Judas Contact First Look

A Fight Like None Before

By Sam Burns

Check out a first look at the upcoming DC Animated movie - Teen Titans: Judas Contract!

The first image shows off some of the heroes set to feature in the comic book adaptation including (from left to right) Blue Beetle (Jake T.Austin), Beast Boy (Brandon Soo Hoo), Starfire ( Kari Wahlgren), Nightwing (Sean Maher) and main hero Terra (Christina Ricci).

Other heroes set to feature include the return of Damian Wayne's Robin (Stuart Allen) and Raven (Taissa Farmiga).

Deathstroke is the main villain here and actor Miguer Ferrer provided the voice for the character, he sadly passed away recently but did complete his voice work on the project.

We are really excited to see this iconic comicbook storyline translated in animation and will keep you updated on developments as we get them.

You can check out DC Animated's next film - Justice League Dark when it releases next month!

Final Logan Trailer Revealed

Final Logan Trailer Revealed

The End of an Era

By Steven Carter

Take a look at the final trailer for Logan - Hugh Jackman's touted final appearance as Wolverine and a potential end-game scenario for the X-Men universe. We are really looking forward to this one check out the goods in the player below.


Set in 2024, Logan and Professor Charles Xavier must cope with the loss of the X-Men at the hands of a corporation led by Nathaniel Essex. With Logan's healing abilities slowly fading and Xavier's Alzheimer's hampering his memory, Logan must defeat Essex with the help of a young girl named Laura Kinney, a female clone of Wolverine.

Directed by James Mangold, Logan is set for release March 3, 2017

Listen to why we are so excited for Logan in the podcast below - be sure to subscribe!

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Extended Power Rangers Trailer Revealed

Extended Power Rangers Trailer Revealed

Zords Unleashed!

By Steven Carter

Check out a brand new trailer for the upcoming Power Rangers film reboot from Lionsgate!


SABAN’S POWER RANGERS follows five ordinary teens who must become something extraordinary when they learn that their small town of Angel Grove — and the world — is on the verge of being obliterated by an alien threat. Chosen by destiny, our heroes quickly discover they are the only ones who can save the planet. But to do so, they will have to overcome their real-life issues and before it’s too late, band together as the Power Rangers.

Power Rangers – In Theaters March 24

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Arrow Mid-Season Premiere Extended Trailer

Arrow Midseason Premier Extended Trailer

Plus CW Sizzle Reel

By Alex Burns

The CW have revealed a new trailer for the mid-season premier of Arrow Season 5.


Season 5, Episode 10 - "Who Are You"

“Worried that Prometheus is right and he is truly a killer at heart, Oliver looks for any ray of hope and finds it in what seems to be the miraculous return of Laurel Lance (guest star Katie Cassidy). However, Felicity, still reeling from Detective Malone’s murder, is bent on revenge – she wants to stop Prometheus at any cost. While in prison, Diggle fights for his life.”

New episodes of Arrow return Wednesday, January 25 on The CW!

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Michael Keaton Talks Playing The Vulture in Spider-Man Homecoming

Michael Keaton Talks Playing The Vulture in Spider-Man Homecoming

A New Challenge

By Steven Carter

While speaking with Variety Michael Keaton gave a little insight into his upcoming appearance as The Vulture in Marvel and Sony's superhero blockbuster - Spider-Man: Homecoming.

“Not to give too much away, but interestingly, he is and he isn’t, that character,” Keaton said of The Vulture being a villain. “He’s a really interesting — and more interesting than I thought — villain because there’s parts of him that you go, ‘You know what? I might see his point.’ Really, really. It makes it interesting to play.”

When asked if he had any hesitations about returning to the superhero genre the actor said.

“No, I mean, not at all. It’s just a thing. A gig,” Keaton stated. “I don’t mean it’s just a gig, it’s the next job. And you think you can do it or want to do it and in fact I said no, because I couldn’t, it didn’t work in my schedule. Then I’m glad to say, they kind of shifted the scheduling and it worked out. So it fit in and I’m glad I did it.”

Keaton is of course most well known for his stellar work as The Dark Knight in Tim Burton's Batman films. The actor has since found critical acclaim in a self-referencing role in the oscar-winning Birdman.

We can't wait to see Keaton take on Tom Holland's Spidey in Homecoming later this year. Check out our full thoughts in our special trailer reaction podcast.

Full listing for the episode as follows:

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 - Trailer Reaction and Speculation - 00:04:27

Confirmed! - Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series - 00:19:40

Batman Solo Movie Updates - 00:21:32

Confirmed! Gotham City Sirens - 00:26:35

Listener Q&A - 00:34:19

Main Topic - Spider-Man Homecoming - Trailer Reaction and Speculation - 00:51:17



If you want to listen to the Cape and Cowl Cast on-the-go then download the Podcast at Podbean for free - also available on iTunes

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Chevrolet Reveal Full-Size LEGO Batmobile

Chevrolet Reveal Full-Size LEGO Batmobile

Nice Set of Wheels

By Sam Burns

Take a look at this incredible full-size LEGO Batmobile from Chevrolet!



Totally awesome looking? Yep. Insane crime-fighting arsenal? You know it. Fit for a loner vigilante and average citizen alike, from its stud shooters to its standard roof "ejection" function, the LEGO® Batmobile from Chevy has something to handle any situation. See how this Super Hero supercar was precisely engineered to kick butt

Learn more at Chevrolet

Check out LEGO Batman when the movie hits theatres this February!

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Star Wars Rebels - Trials of the Darksaber Preview & Promo

Star Wars Rebels - Trials of the Darksaber Preview & Promo

Training Begins

By Franco Dionisio

Check out this new trailer for the next episode of Star Wars Rebels Season 3 on Disney XD - Trials of the Darksaber.

"In this clip from the Star Wars Rebels episode ""Trials of the Darksaber,"" Kanan trains Sabine, new custodian of the legendary Darksaber, in the art of combat. But she has much to learn...

Tune in to Star Wars Rebels on Saturday, January 21st, at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT on Disney XD!

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The Flash - Midseason Premiere Extended Trailer

The Flash - Midseason Premiere Extended Trailer

Look to the Future

By Steven Cater

The CW have revealed a new midseason premiere trailer for the return of The Flash Season 3. The episode is titled, Borrowing Problems from the Future, check out the extended trailer below.

"Barry is tormented by his vision of the future where Iris is murdered by Savitar. When a criminal named Plunder (guest star Stephen Huszar) shows up in Central City, Barry recalls the villain’s presence in his vision of the future and fears that if he catches Plunder, it will cement Iris’ fate. Confused about Barry’s hesitation to stop Plunder, Wally decides to step in as Kid Flash. Caitlin offers Julian a job.”

New episodes of The Flash return Tuesday, January 24 on The CW! 

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Superman in Chains! Injustice 2 Story Trailer

Superman in Chains! Injustice 2 Story Trailer

Join the Fight

By Ashley Samuel

Check out a brand new story trailer for NetherRealm Studios' highly-anticipated superhero fighting game - Injustice 2! The DC Comics brawler will arrive online and in stores on May 17th 2017.

Injustice 2 will continue the storyline established in Injustice: Gods Among Us.

Following the defeat of High Councilor Superman, Batman and the rest of the insurgency attempt to piece society back together while struggling against the remnants of Superman's regime who seek to restore his rule. In the midst of the chaos, a new threat appears, putting Earth's existence at risk.

Build and power up the ultimate version of your favorite DC legends in INJUSTICE 2. With a massive selection of DC Super Heroes and Super-Villains, INJUSTICE 2 allows you to personalize every iconic character with unique and powerful gear. Take control over how your favorite characters look, how they fight, and how they develop across a huge variety of game modes. This is your Legend. Your Journey. Your Injustice.

Coming to Playstation 4 and Xbox One on May 17th, 2017.

Pre-Order Today www.injustice.com

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The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - Story Trailer

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - Story Trailer

Coming to Nintendo Switch March 3rd!

By Alex Burns

Check out this awesome new trailer for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild! We get way more story details than ever before and also a confirmed release date for March 3rd 2017 - don't you dare delay it Nintendo! Enjoy the new footage below plus some extended gameplay as well (via Polygon).


Forget everything you know about The Legend of Zelda games. Step into a world of discovery, exploration and adventure in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, a boundary-breaking new game in the acclaimed series. Travel across fields, through forests and to mountain peaks as you discover what has become of the ruined kingdom of Hyrule in this stunning open-air adventure.


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Pre-Order Now!

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