James Gunn Confirms When Batman Will Make His Live-Action DCU Debut

The DC Universe is taking shape with its first animated series out and Superman getting closer to release. After Superman, fans can expect Peacemaker Season 2, followed by Supergirl in 2026. But one major part of the new DCU still has many questions around it — Batman.

The Brave and the Bold, a future film that will introduce the DCU’s version of Batman, is one of the most talked-about upcoming projects. The film will be directed by Andy Muschietti, known for The Flash, but no cast has been announced yet. The story will take inspiration from comic book runs by Grant Morrison and Tom King.

It will focus on the Bat-Family and introduce Damian Wayne as Robin. James Gunn has said Damian is his favorite Robin and wants to show him as a deadly fighter, calling him an “assassin” and a “murderer.” The movie will explore his relationship with Batman, presenting a strange and complex father-son bond.

Even though The Brave and the Bold hasn’t started filming and doesn’t have a release date, Gunn confirmed on social media that this film will serve as Batman’s true introduction in the DCU.

But Batman shows up in the animated series Creature Commandos. The show includes Doctor Phosphorus, a villain who has already crossed paths with the Dark Knight. According to Gunn, this proves that Batman is already active in the DCU before The Brave and the Bold. So while the movie will be his first main appearance but the character is already part of the world.

Doctor Phosphorus, voiced by Alan Tudyk, is shown as a former scientist who becomes a radioactive villain after being betrayed by Rupert Thorne. He then kills Thorne and his family, taking over his criminal empire. At some point, Batman arrests him.

One scene sparked fan debate. Phosphorus says in the show that he hasn’t been “touched in 15 years.” Some fans took this to mean that Batman has been active for more than a decade. But Gunn cleared up the confusion. He said, “Yes you are right. It would be silly to assume Phosphorus met Batman the minute after he became Phosphorus. I wouldn’t even trust Phosphorus’ sense of time/proclivity for hyperbole.” In short, Phosphorus might have been running his crime group for a long time before Batman ever got involved.

This also means Rupert Thorne may never have met Batman in this universe, as Phosphorus took over before Batman showed up. It gives more room for how the DCU timeline works and how Batman’s history is being built.
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