James Gunn and Peter Safran have officially announced that a new Batman will be introduced in the DCU with the upcoming film, The Brave and the Bold, confirming that Robert Pattinson will not reprise the role in this new universe. Instead, Pattinson will continue to portray Batman exclusively in Matt Reeves’ The Batman Epic Crime Saga.
During a DC Studios presentation attended by IGN, Gunn dismissed any possibility of Pattinson crossing over into the DCU, stating, “It's certainly not the plan. No.” Safran echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the need to introduce a fresh Batman to the DCU, saying, “And we love him, but we've got to introduce a Batman into the DCU. That's imperative. And so that's the plan with The Brave and the Bold.”
Speculation about Pattinson potentially playing Batman across the entire DCU arose earlier this year when Reeves hinted at the possibility. However, Reeves clarified his stance during an interview with reporter Josh Horowitz at the Golden Globes, focusing on his commitment to The Batman Epic Crime Saga. He said, “It really comes down to whether or not it makes sense. What’s been great is there was a story that I wanted to tell with what we’re calling The Epic Crime Saga and all that, which is the thrust of what we want to do. And it’s been important to me to be able to play that out. And James and Peter have been really, really great about that and they’re letting us do that.”
Regarding the future, Reeves remained non-committal, stating, “What the future brings? I can’t really tell you. I have no idea right now except that my head is down now about getting The Batman Part 2 shooting and to make it something really, really special which, of course, is the most important thing.”
Safran expressed enthusiasm for Reeves’ vision for The Batman Part 2, saying, “We love Matt’s vision for The Batman Part 2, and we're looking forward to this film as much as you are.” He noted that while Reeves has yet to submit a script, the initial drafts are promising.
Meanwhile, The Brave and the Bold is in “very active development,” with Gunn and Safran actively working on the script. They plan to present it to The Flash director Andy Muschietti once it's ready, to see if he's interested in directing. Safran teased that more details about The Brave and the Bold will be announced soon.
Last year, The Batman Part 2 faced another delay, pushing its release to October 1, 2027. This means a five-year gap between the first film and its sequel. When asked about the potential release window for The Brave and the Bold, Safran was cryptic, stating, “Well, I think we've announced October, 2027 there will be a Batman movie. That is all we can tell you right now.”
While fans eagerly await The Brave and the Bold to see Gunn's take on Batman, a brief glimpse of the character was provided in Episode 6 of Creature Commandos. The image showed Batman on a rooftop, observing crime boss Doctor Phosphorus. Gunn explained to Rotten Tomatoes TV that he opted for a more generic silhouette to avoid committing to specific details prematurely.
This cameo in Creature Commandos confirmed that Batman already exists within the DCU and is well-known, negating the need for an origin story. Gunn also hinted at future collaborations, expressing his love for Batman and teasing a potential team-up with Superman, saying, “This is the DCU Batman. 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.”
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