When James Gunn announced the DCU slate, one of the biggest pieces of news was that it would feature a separate Batman from the one being portrayed by Robert Pattinson in The Batman, which now exists in a narrative realm dubbed Elseworlds. For over two years, fans have argued over whether it’s a good idea to have two separate Batman film franchises, or if there should only be one. And if so, should Robert Pattinson’s Batman be integrated into the DCU or conclude after The Batman – Part II? Now, Gunn has once again weighed in on the debate.
On Threads, Gunn was asked by a fan if he found the segment of the audience who wants to combine The Batman in the DCU — referred to as “mergers” — annoying, given that Gunn has repeatedly said that the DCU Batman will be separate from Pattinson’s. Gunn replied, saying not only that it doesn’t bother him that people are expressing their desires, but also reminding fans that this isn’t really something to get worked up about:
“I have no problem with people expressing what they want on both side of this very (not) important issue and don’t understand the anger people are showing to each other about it.”
Why So Serious?
At the moment, there are no plans for Matt Reeves’ Epic Crime Saga to be folded into the DCU. Gunn has repeatedly stated that Reeves is taking his own approach to Batman and is not interfering with it. If Reeves himself wanted Robert Pattinson’s Batman to be part of the DCU, that could happen, but it would be up to the filmmaker and not something Gunn wants to force and get in the way of the story Reeves has been crafting. Fans may want Pattinson’s Batman to share the screen with David Corenswet’s Superman, but that should be a decision made based on what’s best for their stories and not to fit a studio or fan mandate.
Elements of Batman’s mythology introduced in Creature Commandos, such as the overall aesthetic of Gotham City and the presence of superpowered individuals like Doctor Phosphorus and Clayface, certainly clash with Reeves’ aesthetic for Batman. Creature Commandos also implies that Batman has been operating for at least a decade, a decision made to align with Gunn’s plan for the DCU Batman movie, The Brave and the Bold, which will feature Bruce Wayne training his son, Damian Wayne/Robin. However, Peacemaker Season 2 also established that the franchise is willing to retcon small story elements to serve the story, so that could always be hand-waved away.
Plans for both Reeves’ Batman and the DCU’s version of the Dark Knight are up in the air. The Batman – Part II is set for release in October 2027; meanwhile, The Brave and the Bold is unlikely to be released until after The Batman – Part II, so a 2028 release date at the earliest is currently anticipated. The DCU’s corner of Gotham City will expand in 2026 with Clayface, a movie centered on Batman’s villain. Perhaps by then, the DCU will know more about which direction it’s taking Batman, and possibly cast an actor to cameo in Clayface before The Brave and the Bold. Or maybe they’ll shock the audience with Pattinson showing up and changing everything fans thought they knew.
- Release Date
-
March 4, 2022
- Runtime
-
176 minutes
- Writers
-
Matt Reeves, Peter Craig, Bob Kane, Bill Finger