James Gunn’s Batman reveal shuts down Robert Pattinson DCU debate

James Gunn has just revealed big news about The Brave and the Bold, confirming Batman’s future in the DC Universe. If you were in favor of Robert Pattinson joining the line-up, don’t hold your breath.
While all eyes are on Superman right now, Gunn has been busy answering questions about the DCU’s Dark Knight during the press run, confirming he’s “very involved” in the process and it’s his biggest priority right now.
Although both Andy Muschietti’s The Brave and the Bold and Matt Reeves’ The Batman 2 have faced delays, the latter just hit a major milestone, with the finished script due to be submitted this week.
But there’s an ongoing debate suggesting Pattinson could make the leap from Elseworlds to the DCU continuity. But if Gunn’s latest comments are to be believed, those hopes have been dashed.
DCU Batman will make his live-action debut in The Brave and the Bold
Over on Threads, one fan asked Gunn, “James, without holding you to anything, is it still the plan for Brave and the Bold to be the live-action introduction to the DCU Batman? Obviously things can change but I’m wondering if, as of right now, that’s still the plan.”
He simply replied, “Yes.” If this plan is maintained, there’s no way for Pattinson’s Caped Crusader to be the DCU’s Batman, as he’s already made his live-action debut.
This supports previous comments Gunn made in an interview with Rolling Stone, where he was asked about whether he would want to pull Pattinson into the DCU. “It would be a consideration. We’d have to think about it… It is not like we’ve never discussed it,” he said.
“I would never say zero, because you just never know. But it’s not likely. It’s not likely at all. I’ll also say Batman Part II is not canceled,” he continued.
“That’s the other thing I hear all the time – that Batman Part II is canceled. It’s not canceled. We don’t have a script. Matt’s slow. Let him take his time. Let him do what he’s doing. God, people are mean. Let him do his thing, man.”
James Gunn says Batman is his priority

Gunn’s Threads response also rules out the possibility of teasing Batman with a cameo before The Brave and the Bold, a tactic that’s been used in past superhero franchises.
Marvel, for instance, introduced Spider-Man in Captain America: Civil War before giving him his own solo film, and Black Panther debuted the same way.
But, according to Gunn, the DCU’s Batman won’t appear until the solo movie. That means no appearances in upcoming movies like Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow or the R-rated Clayface flick.
Even so, some fans aren’t entirely convinced. “I mean if he was planning it as a surprise sometime before that, he’s not going to spill the beans on a Thread,” said one, while another wrote, “Agreed, he said Batman could show before that. If possible.”
One thing’s for sure: Batman is Gunn’s priority right now. “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,” he added.
“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.”
On the DC Studios Showcase podcast, he said, “I have very specific which I have ideas about how it should go… Batman: Brave and the Bold is one of those things.
“We’re working with a writer now, it’s going really well, but I had a very specific idea about how it should go, and so I’m just very involved in the process of that film.”
In the meantime, Superman flies into cinemas on July 11, 2025. You can also check out the upcoming DCU TV shows and movies, obscure villains suitable for The Batman 2, and our ranking of Batman movies.
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