What's the latest with Batman movies? Progress on the live-action Caped Crusader appears to be moving very slowly, with DC Universe co-chief James Gunn acknowledging, "Batman's my biggest issue in all of DC right now."
In February, James Gunn and fellow DCU head Peter Safran confirmed The Brave and the Bold will introduce a new Batman to the DCU, explicitly ruling out current actor Robert Pattinson for the role.
At the time, Safran and Gunn stated Pattinson would portray Batman exclusively within director Matt Reeves' universe, known as The Batman Epic Crime Saga. Pattinson debuted as Batman in 2022's *The Batman*, with *The Batman - Part 2* officially in development.
However, last year The Batman Part 2 was delayed once more, this time to October 1, 2027. If this date holds, it would mean a five-year gap between Robert Pattinson's first appearance as the Dark Knight and his return in the sequel.
So, what does this mean for The Brave and the Bold? Gunn faces the potentially confusing prospect of two actors playing Batman across two distinct DC universes.
Given this, it's perhaps unsurprising to hear Gunn discuss the specific challenges he's navigating with the character. In a Rolling Stone interview (the same one where he addressed the Snyderverse fandom and the removal of subtitles from Superman and Supergirl movies), he again cast doubt on Pattinson crossing over to play Batman in the DCU.
“I would never say never, because you just never know,” he remarked. “But it’s not likely. It’s not likely at all.”
Amid speculation about Gunn's handling of Batman, rumors emerged claiming *The Batman - Part 2* was canceled. Gunn denied this, asserting director Matt Reeves is simply being “slow,” though the film seems far off given there's no completed script.
“I’ll also clarify that Batman Part 2 is not canceled,” Gunn stated. “That’s another rumor I keep hearing — that Batman Part 2 is canceled. It is not. We don’t have a script yet. Matt is taking his time. Let him work at his own pace. Let him do what he’s doing. Honestly, people can be so harsh. Just let the man do his thing.”
Confirmed DCU Projects
View 11 Images
Attention therefore shifts to *The Brave and the Bold*, which some speculate could take the October 2027 slot vacated by *The Batman Part 2*. As of February, the film was reportedly in "very active development," with the story "coming together very nicely." But is The Flash director Andy Muschietti still attached to direct? Gunn and Safran are developing the script and plan to present it to Muschietti "when we have it in a place where we think it's ready... and see if it's a fit for him," Safran noted earlier this year. "I'm very, very actively involved in that script," Gunn added around the same time.
Speaking now about Batman, Gunn clarified he is not personally writing *The Brave and the Bold*, but is collaborating closely with an unnamed writer to "get it right."
“Batman’s my biggest challenge within DC at the moment, personally,” he admitted. “I'm not writing Batman, but I am working with the writer and trying to ensure we nail it, because he’s incredibly important to DC, as is Wonder Woman.
“So beyond the projects I'm directly helming, our top two priorities are finalizing the scripts for Wonder Woman and Batman.”
Gunn then spoke in broad terms about the kind of Batman he envisions—or, more accurately, the kind he wants to avoid.
“Batman has to have a compelling reason to exist, right? It can't just be, ‘We're making a Batman movie because he's Warner Bros.' biggest character,’ which he is. He must fulfill a specific need in the DCU, and he must be distinct from Matt Reeves' Batman.
“At the same time, he won't be a campy Batman. I have no interest in that. I'm not looking to create a funny, campy version. So we're working through that. I believe I have a solid approach, by the way. I think I know what it should be—I'm just collaborating with the writer to turn that vision into reality.”
While fans await *The Brave and the Bold* to see Gunn's take on Batman, Episode 6 of the DCU canon kickstarter Creature Commandos featured Batman standing on a rooftop, observing crime boss Doctor Phosphorus. The image revealed a powerfully built Caped Crusader in his iconic suit, but little else about Gunn's interpretation of the hero.
Based on Gunn's comments to Rotten Tomatoes TV after Episode 6 aired, it's clear why this glimpse of Batman was so generic. Gunn mentioned he requested "more silhouette" after the initial, more detailed Batman design exceeded what he was ready to commit to at that stage.
Gunn explained that this brief appearance served to confirm that Batman not only already exists in the DCU during the events of *Creature Commandos* and this July's Superman movie, but that he is an established figure, making a retelling of his well-known origin story unnecessary.
Gunn then made an intriguing remark hinting that the DCU's Batman will eventually team up with Superman.
“This is the DCU Batman,” he said of the *Creature Commandos* cameo. “Listen, I have to tell you, I absolutely love Batman. I've loved him since I was a child. He's one of my favorite characters. I've said before, even when I was at Marvel, that Batman is my favorite. I love him, and we're going to do great things with him. He's the world's most popular superhero, and I can't wait for audiences to see more of him, alongside Superman, as a team.”
