There is a bit of a benefit to starring in a couple of studio films. For someone like Ben Affleck, WB can rearrange the schedule for the films he stars in. Aside from Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Suicide Squad, and the solo Batman film he will direct, Affleck also stars in Gavin O’Connors assassin drama The Accountant, and his second directorial effort Live By Night. At first, these films were to be released in 2016, but now WB has pushed them all back to a much later date, which by all indications looks like a strategic move to score some major awards.

More on the story below.

Variety says that O’Connor’s The Accountant, which sees Affleck as a mild-mannered accountant who moonlights as an assassin, be moved from its January 2016 release all the way to October 7, 2016. That date was previously held by his second directorial effort, an adaptation of Denis Lehane’s Live By Night, a film set during the prohibition era, which will now be moved to an unannounced 2017 date.

The report adds that given Live By Night‘s November start date, there was a strong possibility that its release date could be moved to a more favorable and awards friendly release. Affleck is also tasked with co-writing his directorial Batman film with Geoff Johns, and they are expected to turn in a script before the end of the year. This wouldn’t be the first time that Live By Night was delayed, but with the film expected to start lensing this November, with Zoe Saldana, Elle Fanning, and Sienna Miller, whether or not the scheduling shift has an effect on the production remains to be seen. On the flip side of it, getting an undated 2017 release would give more time for Affleck to work on the film.

It’s still unclear as to why Warner Bros. decided to push back The Accountant a full year. The film actually finished production this summer.

The Accountant also stars Anna Kendrick, Jon Bernthal, J.K. Simmons, John Lithgow, and Jeffery Tambor.

We’ll keep you posted on the status of both films as they progress.

Affleck can next be seen in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice on March 25th, 2016.

[Source: Variety]