Batman: Ben Affleck solo film rumoured to feature almost every classic villain

So, who's set to join the nefarious likes of Jared Leto's Joker and Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn?

Batman occupies a fairly unique position in the comics universe in the fact he's become so defined by the villains that plague him. Gotham bears home to so many of the most iconic comic book villains, gifting any potential filmmaker an absolute bounty of cinematic opportunities, which Ben Affleck's own Batman film is apparently keen to reap.

Birth.Movies.Death claims that almost every single classic Batman villain will be featured in the upcoming solo film, with both Affleck and DC creative honcho Geoff Johns eager to make their production, "the definitive Batman film".

Which is a pretty substantial undertaking, considering they'll be having to outdo the beloved works of both Christopher Nolan and Tim Burton, films which themselves put to screen some of Batman's very best foes. Obviously, we can already expect both Jared Leto's Joker and Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn to be making an appearance; considering they already will have been established in within the universe after Suicide Squad.

Elsewhere, the film may attempt to avoid replicating the past, making it fairly unlikely we'd be seeing a new take on either Tom Hardy's Bane or Aaron Eckhart's Harvey Dent/Two-Face. Catwoman however? Her long history of anti-heroism would make her a perfect match for Ben Affleck's darker, wearied take on the character.

There's also the opportunity to bring in the likes of Clayface or Red Hood; as well as fresh, grittier revisits of the Riddler, Penguin, and Poison Ivy. One villain that can be ruled out, however, is the second version of Red Hood; the film doesn't appear to be adapting the Under the Red Hood storyline, which saw Robin (AKA Jason Todd) rise from the grave and embark on a path of vengeful villainy.

Perhaps this will all become a lot clearer on the release of Suicide Squad, which hits UK cinemas 5 August. Until then, speculate away.