Robert Pattinson Out as DCU Batman

James Gunn and Peter Safran have officially announced that The Brave and the Bold will introduce a new Batman to the DCU, confirming that Robert Pattinson will not reprise his role as the Dark Knight in this new universe. During a DC Studios presentation, Safran and Gunn emphasized that Pattinson's portrayal of Batman will be exclusive to Matt Reeves' The Batman Epic Crime Saga.

Gunn stated, "It's certainly not the plan," regarding Pattinson's potential crossover into the DCU. Safran added, "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."

This clarification comes after earlier speculation fueled by Reeves, who had hinted at the possibility of Pattinson's Batman appearing in the broader DCU. Reeves told Josh Horowitz at the Golden Globes, "It really comes down to whether or not it makes sense... 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."

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 noted that while Reeves has yet to submit a script, the initial drafts are promising.

Meanwhile, The Brave and the Bold is in "very active development," with Gunn and Safran actively working on the script. They plan to present it to The Flash director Andy Muschietti once it's ready, to see if it aligns with his vision. Safran teased that more details about The Brave and the Bold will be announced soon.

The release of The Batman Part 2 has been delayed to October 1, 2027, marking a five-year gap since Pattinson's debut as Batman. When asked about the potential release window for The Brave and the Bold, Safran simply said, "Well, I think we've announced October, 2027 there will be a Batman movie. That is all we can tell you right now."

Fans got a glimpse of Gunn's Batman in Episode 6 of Creature Commandos, where he was seen on a rooftop overlooking crime boss Doctor Phosphorus. The image was intentionally generic, as Gunn explained to Rotten Tomatoes TV, "I asked for 'more silhouette' after the original Batman on show was more detailed than I was ready to commit to at the time."

This brief appearance confirmed that Batman already exists and is well-known within the DCU during the events of Creature Commandos and the upcoming Superman movie. Gunn also hinted at a future collaboration between Batman and Superman, expressing his deep affection for the character: "This is the DCU Batman... I just love Batman. I love him. I've loved him since I was a little kid. He's one of my favorite characters... 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."

Confirmed DCU Projects

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