Batman’s arrival in the rebooted DCU is perhaps the most anticipated superhero reveal in James Gunn’s fledgling new universe. But it is shrouded in mystery even now, years after it was announced. So, is it still happening, and, if it is, when will we hear more?
Andy Muschietti, director of 2017’s It, 2019’s It Chapter Two, and 2023’s critical and commercial failure The Flash, is down to direct Batman: The Brave and the Bold for Gunn’s DCU. But we’ve seen nothing of the movie since it was announced as part of Gunn’s Gods and Monsters: Chapter One phase of the DCU back in January 2023. Indeed, Gunn went as far as to admit earlier this year that “Batman’s my biggest issue in all of DC right now.”
But could we be close to a reveal of some description? Speaking to Variety to promote the launch of HBO Max show It: Welcome to Derry, Barbara Muschietti confirmed that “the intention is yes,” to move forward with The Brave and the Bold, “but we can’t talk about it.”
Then, Andy Muschietti perhaps went further than he was allowed to when he added: “We have to wait a few, a couple of months to start talking about it.”
“I screwed it already.”
Variety framed this as Andy Muschietti realizing that saying he has to wait a couple months to talk about his Batman movie may itself have been letting slip too much information, which says a lot about the secrecy surrounding this movie. But if that’s true, then we may get our first proper insight into what Gunn and Muschietti have planned for the DCU’s Batman by the end of the year.
Last month, Gunn told IGN that “plenty of things are in flux” when it came to The Brave and the Bold, but insisted “I like where we are” on the script. Gunn had previously called Damian Wayne “a little son of a bitch” and “my favorite Robin” back when he and DC Studios co-CEO Peter Safran unveiled the Gods and Monsters slate.
Considering that The Brave and the Bold, as it was originally announced, would pair Batman with his son Damian Wayne, who’s about 10 years old in the comics, does that mean the DCU’s Bruce Wayne (and hence the actor who will play him) will be in his mid-to-late 30s?
“No, I think you have to wait to see the movie,” Gunn replied. “Some things have changed. Plenty of things are in flux on what his situation is with his parentage and all that stuff, so I wouldn’t take any of it — Yeah, I mean, the actor who wants to… Listen, first of all, I can’t tell you the amount of big actors that have told me they want to be Batman.
“I think you’d have a harder time finding actors who don’t want to be Batman. He’s the one character everyone wants to play. That’s the truth.”
Indeed, we know more about who’s not playing Batman in The Brave and the Bold than who may. You can forget about Robert Pattinson, who plays The Batman in Matt Reeves’ self-contained DC universe, the ‘Batman Epic Crime Saga.’ Reacher star Alan Ritchson has said he’s not in the running, either. Nor is Guardians of the Galaxy star Chris Pratt.
Gunn has discussed in vague terms the kind of Batman he’s going for — or, perhaps it would be better to say the kind of Batman he’s trying to avoid.
Speaking earlier this year, Gunn said: “Batman has to have a reason for existing, right? So Batman can’t just be ‘Oh, we’re making a Batman movie because Batman’s the biggest character in all of Warner Bros.,’ which he is. But because there’s a need for him in the DCU and a need that he’s not exactly the same as Matt’s Batman.
“But yet he’s not a campy Batman. I’m not interested in that. I’m not interested in a funny, campy Batman, really. So we’re dealing with that. I think I have a way in, by the way. I think I really know what it’s — I just am dealing with the writer to make sure that we can make it a reality.”
While fans wait for The Brave and the Bold to see Gunn’s Batman, Episode 6 of DCU canon kickstarter Creature Commandos showed Batman standing on a rooftop looking down at crime boss Doctor Phosphorus. The image below revealed a mega-stacked Caped Crusader in his iconic costume, but there was little else that could be discerned about Gunn’s take on the superhero.
Based on comments Gunn issued to Rotten Tomatoes TV following the release of Episode 6, it’s easy to see why this brief look at Batman was so generic. Gunn said he asked for “more silhouette” after the original Batman on show was more detailed than he was ready to commit to at the time.
What this look at Batman did provide fans with, Gunn explained, was a clear indication that Batman not only already exists within the DCU during the events we’re seeing in Creature Commandos and the Superman movie, but that he is well-known within the universe, and that’s why there’s no need to tell his origin story.
Gunn then made an interesting comment that suggested the DCU Batman will team up with Superman at some point.
“This is the DCU Batman,” he said of the Creature Commandos cameo. “Listen I gotta tell you, I just love Batman. I love him. I’ve loved him since I was a little kid. He’s one of my favorite characters. I’ve gone on the record in the past when I was at Marvel saying my favorite character is Batman. I love him and we’re going to do great things with him. He’s the most popular superhero in the world and I can’t wait for people to see more of him, along with Superman, and together.”
It feels like it could be a while before we get our first look, with the likes of Supergirl, Clayface, and Man of Tomorrow due out in 2026 and 2027. Reeves’ The Batman 2, due out in 2027, and a potential The Batman 3 coming out after means Gunn faces the confusing situation of having two actors playing Batman in movies across two different DC universes.
Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
2025-10-23 08:25:00
