A breakdown in negotiations has caused Matt Reeves to step away from THE BATMAN.

The DC Entertainment Universe continues its bad luck streak with directors, this time involving The Batman solo flick.

First, Ben Affleck dropped out as director of the project in late January. In his official statement, Affleck cited the need to focus on portraying the character and getting the role right. However, earlier that same month he threatened to leave the directing gig if he didn’t feel the script was right, so his later reasoning has been met with some questions.

Warner Bros began the search for a new director as the news of Affleck’s departure broke. Less than two weeks later, it was announced that the studio was finalizing plans to have War of the Planet of the Apes director Matt Reeves come on board for the project. Sadly, it wasn’t meant to be.

Variety has confirmed that negotiations between Reeves and Warner Bros have broken down, leaving the film without any known directing prospects. A source tells the publication that Warner Bros. still plans to make the film by “whatever means necessary.”

Following in the footsteps of The Flash movie, The Batman is the second DCEU flick with multiple director fumbles under its belt. The film is still expected out sometime in 2018.