James Gunn and Peter Safran have officially announced that *The Brave and the Bold* will introduce a new Batman to the DC Universe (DCU), explicitly ruling out actor Robert Pattinson for this role. During a DC Studios presentation covered by IGN, the co-chiefs confirmed that Pattinson will continue to portray Batman solely within Matt Reeves’ *The Batman Epic Crime Saga*.
“It's certainly not the plan,” Gunn stated firmly about the idea of Pattinson crossing over into the DCU. Safran reinforced this stance, emphasizing, “And we love him, but we've got to introduce a Batman into the DCU. That's imperative. And so that's the plan with *The Brave and the Bold*.”
The speculation regarding Pattinson's potential involvement across the entire DCU was fueled earlier this year when Reeves hinted at the possibility. Speaking to reporter Josh Horowitz at the Golden Globes, Reeves noted, “It really comes down to whether or not it makes sense. What’s been great is there was a story that I wanted to tell with what we’re calling The Epic Crime Saga and all that, which is the thrust of what we want to do. And it’s been important to me to be able to play that out. And James and Peter have been really, really great about that and they’re letting us do that. What the future brings? I can’t really tell you. I have no idea right now except that my head is down now about getting *The Batman Part 2* shooting and to make it something really, really special which, of course, is the most important thing.”
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Safran expressed enthusiasm for Reeves’ vision for *The Batman Part 2*, stating, “We love Matt's vision for *The Batman Part 2*, and we're looking forward to this film as much as you are.” He also mentioned that while Reeves has not yet submitted a script, the material they have seen so far is very encouraging.
Meanwhile, *The Brave and the Bold* is in "very active development," and the story is "coming together very nicely." There is uncertainty regarding whether *The Flash* director Andy Muschietti will direct this film. Gunn and Safran are actively developing the script and plan to present it to Muschietti once they feel it's ready. Safran promised more details about *The Brave and the Bold* would be announced "very soon."
Last year, *The Batman Part 2* faced another delay, pushing its release to October 1, 2027. This means fans will have to wait five years between seeing Robert Pattinson's debut as the Dark Knight and its sequel. When asked about the potential release window for *The Brave and the Bold*, Safran was cautious, saying, “Well, I think we've announced October, 2027 there will be a Batman movie. That is all we can tell you right now.”
Although fans must wait for *The Brave and the Bold* to see Gunn’s Batman, Episode 6 of *Creature Commandos* provided a glimpse of Batman standing on a rooftop overlooking crime boss Doctor Phosphorus. The image showcased a robust Batman in his iconic costume, though little else could be discerned about Gunn’s interpretation of the character. Gunn explained to Rotten Tomatoes TV that he requested "more silhouette" for this depiction, as the initial design was more detailed than he was prepared to commit to at that stage.
This brief appearance of Batman in *Creature Commandos* confirmed that the character already exists within the DCU during the events depicted and is well-known within this universe, negating the need to retell his origin story. Gunn also hinted at a future collaboration between Batman and Superman, expressing his deep affection for the character and excitement for upcoming projects: “This is the DCU Batman... Listen, I gotta tell you, I just love Batman. I love him. I've loved him since I was a little kid. He's one of my favorite characters. I've gone on the record in the past when I was at Marvel saying my favorite character is Batman. I love him and we're going to do great things with him. He's the most popular superhero in the world and I can't wait for people to see more of him, along with Superman, and together.”
