Ben Affleck is giving up 'The Batman' director's chair

LOS ANGELES -- Ben Affleck will no longer direct himself in The Batman for Warner Bros., the studio confirmed Monday, nine months after WB announced that he would helm the standalone DC Universe film.

According to Variety, which first reported that Affleck was out, the Argo director still plans to play the caped crusader and will produce The Batman. The movie still hasn't set a release date, and now faces further delays as a search for a new director gets underway.

Affleck gave the following statement via Warner Bros.:

"There are certain characters who hold a special place in the hearts of millions. 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.

WB chief Kevin Tsujihara first confirmed the longstanding rumor of an Affleck-directed Batman standalone film last April at Cinemacon in Las Vegas, mentioning the director in an off-handed comment during his address to the nation's theater owners. It was an unusual way of announcing a big-name director on a major project -- and it never felt like it quite stuck.

Affleck had recently hinted that things weren't quite coming together for The Batman, and now we know why.

"Warner Bros. fully supports Ben Affleck’s decision and remains committed to working with him to bring a standalone Batman picture to life," the studio said in a statement to Variety.

Affleck -- who first played the dark knight in Batman v Superman and had a cameo in Suicide Squad -- is done shooting Justice League and just got done promoting his gangster film Live By Night, which was a bona fide box office bomb, making only $10 million in North America in a handful of weeks.