James Gunn Once Again Clears Up Pattinson’s Batman Role in DC Universe
James Gunn recently shut down rumors once again about Robert Pattinson’s Batman joining the main DC Universe. As the director of Superman and co-CEO of DC Studios, Gunn made it pretty clear: “I’ve said it before. We’ve talked about it before, but it’s not what’s happening right now. Listen, everything is in flux so we will figure out what we’re doing next, yeah.”
Matt Reeves gave us a very different Batman, one focused more on the detective side and Gotham’s gritty atmosphere. Robert Pattinson brought a quiet intensity to the role, making his Batman stand out from past versions.
Not long after Reeves shared a behind-the-scenes picture from the The Batman 2 set, The Hollywood Reporter confirmed the script for the sequel is finished.
But they also dropped a curious comment about another Batman project: “But you can ask Gunn who’s writing The Brave and the Bold movie because we aren’t convinced there is one.” That line got people buzzing. Is The Brave and the Bold still happening, or has it been quietly put on hold?
This reignited rumors even though Gunn has debunked them multiple times before. People have long wondered if DC Studios is serious about The Brave and the Bold. Director Andy Muschietti was announced for the project, and the story was said to be inspired by the comic run where Bruce Wayne discovers he has a son, Damian, with Talia al Ghul. But since that announcement, there hasn’t been much news. A writer is reportedly attached, but no further updates have come.
On the other hand, The Batman 2 is definitely moving forward. It was announced back in April 2022, with Pattinson returning as Batman and Reeves directing again. Mattson Tomlin is helping write the script.
The movie was first called The Batman – Part II but that title has been dropped. Filming is expected to start in late 2025, and the film is scheduled to hit theaters on October 1, 2027. Returning actors include Jeffrey Wright as Jim Gordon, Andy Serkis as Alfred, and Colin Farrell as the Penguin.
Fans have been curious about how these Batman movies fit into the bigger DC picture. Since Gunn and Peter Safran took over DC Studios, many have asked if Pattinson’s Batman will join the main DC Universe. Gunn has been clear that Reeves’ Batman films are part of the “Elseworlds” label, which means they don’t share the same universe as the new Superman and the upcoming DCU heroes.
Gunn respects Reeves’ work and said, “When it’s somebody who’s important, like Matt Reeves… then you have to stand up and listen.”
Some people wonder if it would be easier to bring Reeves’ Batman into the DCU instead of starting fresh with The Brave and the Bold. But that doesn’t seem likely. The two directors have very different visions. Gunn likes big, wild, comic book-style stories, while Reeves focuses on grounded, crime-driven tales. Combining those two styles would be tough.
Right now, both projects seem to exist on paper, but only The Batman 2 is clearly moving ahead. Until Gunn says otherwise, fans will keep watching closely to see if The Brave and the Bold actually happens, or if Pattinson’s Batman stays the main Batman story in DC for now.
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