James Gunn Hints Batman Could Hit the DCU Screen Sooner Than Fans Think

DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn has given fans something to talk about regarding Batman’s upcoming debut in the new DC Universe. The plan has been for Batman to appear in the movie The Brave and the Bold, which will also introduce his son, Damian Wayne, known as Robin.

This film is set several years into Batman’s career, showing a world where the Bat-Family is already established. Andy Muschietti, who directed The Flash, is attached to direct Brave and the Bold, but while a script is being worked on, no writer has been officially announced yet.

Recently, James Gunn joined Josh Horowitz on the Happy Sad Confused podcast and dropped a surprising hint about Batman’s first appearance. When asked if Brave and the Bold will definitely be the first time fans see Batman in the DCU, Gunn didn’t give a clear answer. Instead, he said, “I’m not gonna say that,” which suggests Batman might show up even earlier than expected.

This is quite a change from what Gunn said just a few weeks before. Back in June, when someone asked on Threads if Batman’s debut would still be in Brave and the Bold, Gunn simply answered, “Yes.” Now, it looks like plans might be shifting.

The DCU’s Batman won’t be the versions we’ve seen before. Ben Affleck will not return as Batman, and Matt Reeves’s Batman films will continue separately under the DC Elseworlds label.

The Brave and the Bold movie will be its own thing, inspired by Grant Morrison’s comic run from 2006 to 2013. It will focus on a father-son relationship between Bruce Wayne and Damian Wayne, and Gunn described it as a “strange father and son story.”

The film’s development has been moving slowly. Andy Muschietti’s other projects have pushed back the schedule, with the movie now expected to start work after 2024 to avoid conflicting with The Batman: Part II.

While a writer has been hired and is working on the script with Gunn, Muschietti hasn’t been heavily involved yet but will see the script once it’s ready, according to DC Studios president Peter Safran.

This news shows that the DC Universe is still shaping up and fans may see Batman sooner than anyone thought. With Gunn hinting at surprises, excitement is building for what’s next in the new DC world.

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