I’m glad that James Gunn has decided not to integrate Robert Pattinson’s Dark Knight fromThe Batmaninto the rebootedDC Universe. Filmmaker James Gunn took over DC Studios alongside producer Peter Safran in 2022, and set to work rebooting DC’s live-action movie franchise. I was glad to see the back of Ben Affleck’s Batman, and I’m excited about Gunn and Safran’s plans to reinvent the Caped Crusader in theDCU’sThe Brave and the Boldmovie, but the success of Matt Reeves’The Batmanin 2022 may have thrown a spanner in the works.
Robert Pattinson donned the cape and cowl as a more grounded and gritty version ofBruce Wayne inThe Batmanto take on Paul Dano’s Riddler, who had been targeting the wealthy elite of Matt Reeves' Gotham City. I loved this depiction of Batman, soI understood the rise in speculation that Pattinson’s Dark Knight could become the official version of the hero for the rebooted DC Universe. However, James Gunn has other ideas, and I actually think his way of doing things will be far more beneficial to the DCU and Batman himself.
James Gunn Considered Bringing Robert Pattinson’s Batman Into The DCU
Robert Pattinson Debuted As Batman In 2022
Speaking on theHappy, Sad, Confusedpodcast in December 2024,James Gunn revealed that he did contemplate integrating Robert Pattinson’s Batman into the DCU. Robert Pattinson’s take on Batman is different to any that have come before him, and I’m very interested to see where the formerHarry PotterandTwilightstar takes the character in the upcoming sequel,2026’sThe Batman - Part II, and beyond. Currently, we don’t know what direction the DCU will take with Batman, so it’s a good thing that Pattinson’s Batman will remain separate.
Immediately after revealing that he contemplated introducing Robert Pattinson’s Batman to the DCU, James Gunn explained exactly why this wouldn’t be happening, and his reasoning made me very happy.Gunn stated that he’s"committed to both telling stories in the DCU and telling Elseworlds stories,“and sinceMatt Reeves' new Batman Epic Crime Sagahas been a very successful corner of the DC Elseworlds sphere, I’d consider it a shame to lose it. The same goes for all of DC’s upcoming Elseworlds projects, which I’m excited to see develop separate from the main DC Universe.
The DCU & DC Elseworlds Should Be Kept Separate
Separation Would Benefit Both The DCU & DC’s Elseworlds Projects
James Gunn’s comments about being committed to telling Elseworlds stories and wanting the freedom to do so have me very excited about the future of DC’s live-action storytelling. In the past, I have had a love/hate relationship with DC, as the movies have more-often-than-not fallen flat for me, and have failed to capture the magic that Marvel Studios delivers in its MCU, for instance.2022’sThe Batman, and, before that, 2019’sJoker, hooked my interest more than any other DC movie, because they tried different things than we’d seen before, which was enticing.
2019
2021
2022
2024
2026
Constantine 2
TBD
I would consider it a huge disappointment if DC Studios' sole focus was to fall on the DCU, and thedevelopment of new Elseworlds movieswas to be ignored. I think it would be a huge mistake for Robert Pattinson’s Batman to be folded into the DCU, as he should have the freedom to grow in his own franchise without being too connected to DC’s plethora of other heroes.I’m already upset that theJokerfranchise likely won’t continue after 2024’sJoker: Folie à Deux, but I’m hoping more Elseworlds movies expand DC’s repertoirein the not-too-distant future.
The Brave & The Bold Will Debut A New Batman For The DCU
The DCU Doesn’t Need Robert Pattinson’s Batman
The bottom line is: the DCU doesn’t need Robert Pattinson’s Batman. James Gunn announced the development ofThe Brave and the Boldin January 2023, with the project set to introduce anew actor cast as Batman in the DCUalongside the live-action debut of Bruce Wayne and Talia al Ghul’s son, Damian Wayne, who adopts the moniker of Robin in DC Comics.We can already see that the story of the DCU’s Batman is wildly different to that of the younger and more-hardened Dark Knight portrayed by Pattinson, so it just wouldn’t work integrating him into the rebooted franchise.
The DCU’s New Batman Can Break A 35-Year Movie Trend
The DCU’s The Brave and the Bold could counter a Batman movie trope that has appeared in every movie since 1989, offering a fresh narrative angle.
Actors includingGlen Powell, Alan Ritchson and Jensen Ackles have been some of my favorite fan-casts for Bruce Wayne’s Batman in the DCU, though it seems we’re still a while away from knowing who will actually wear the cape and cowl.Batman has been played by several actors in live-action, most recently Pattinson, Affleck and Christian Bale. I’d love to see someone new explore new layers to the Caped Crusader, as these iterations have shared many similar dark traits, but I think Batman could benefit from being less grounded in the DCU.
DCU’s Batman Would Benefit From Being Less Grounded
DC Studios Can Do Something New & Fresh With The DCU’s Batman
Many of the recent live-action iterations of Bruce Wayne’s Batman have depicted him as a very human, grounded and dark vigilante, practically only operating in the shadow of night in Gotham City. Don’t get me wrong, I love this gritty take on Batman, and this reflects many of his most iconic stories in DC Comics, but I reckon the DCU should take a different direction with the Caped Crusader. Batman’s campier transformation in the 1960s was controversial, andI’m not arguing that the DCU should go full Adam West or George Clooney, but I think more levity certainly wouldn’t hurt.
The Brave and the Bolddoesn’t yet have a scheduled release date, thoughThe Flashdirector Andy Muschietti has reportedly signed on to direct.
The Brave and the Bold’sBatman could do with being more lighthearted, especially since this seems to be the direction James Gunn is taking with the DCU’s early projects.Set photos fromSupermanhave shown more vibrancy, color and life being injected into DC’s most iconic superheroes, and I’d love to see Batman get this treatment, too. I can’t wait to see Robert Pattinson’s darker Bruce Wayne be developed further afterThe Batman, but I want the DCU’s Dark Knight to have a bit more charisma and a fun-loving personality.
The Batman
Cast
The Batman follows a young Bruce Wayne as he investigates a sadistic serial killer targeting key political figures in Gotham. As he delves deeper, he is confronted by the city’s hidden corruption and questions surrounding his own family’s legacy.
