The futures of theBatmanfranchise and the newDC Universehave long been commented on, but a series of updates recently emerged, painting the full picture of where things stand. At the moment, DC has onelive-action Batman. That is Robert Pattinson, who plays a younger Bruce Wayne early in his superhero career. After some time with no updates, it has been announced thatThe Batman- Part II was delayedagain. Initially set for a 2025 release, the anticipated sequel to director Matt Reeves’The Batmanwas moved to 2026 beforejumping again to August 06, 2025.
The movie was delayed in part due to the 2023 Hollywood strikes, which postponed work on the script, though Matt Reeves says the plan is still to enter production this year. The delays put the movie closer to whenBatman’sThe Brave and the Boldmoviewas expected to be released. The project is part of theDCU’s Chapter One. The future Batman film was said to focus ona different period of Bruce Wayne’s life when compared to Robert Pattinson’s, though delays have led to rumors about them merging, and multiple updates reveal where things are at right now.
Matt Reeves And James Gunn Claimed The Universes Would Remain Separate
The DCU’s Revealed Batman Story Does Not Fit Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne
AsThe Batmanfinished its global box office run with $772.3 million (viaBox Office Mojo) and overwhelmingly positive critical reception, fans started to ponder whether Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne could be brought into James Gunn’s DC Universe when the franchise was announced. However, there was a clear story reason blocking that from happening. When the movie was revealed alongside other DCU projects in January 2023, Gunn said thatThe Brave and the Boldwould focus on Bruce Wayne and his son, Damian, later confirming that members of the Bat-Family would appear in the film.
The Batman 2’s Release Delay Officially Breaks A 59-Year-Old Dark Knight Sequel Trend
After another major delay, Robert Pattinson and director Matt Reeves' The Batman 2 will now officially break a long-running Batman movie sequel trend.
Given how Pattinson’s Batman is fairly young and fresh in his career as Batman, he would not exactly fit that description. Despite many fans asking for Pattinson to join the DCU, especially after David Corenswet was cast as Superman in June 2023, Gunn would seemingly close the door on the possibility at the end of the year. In November 2023,James Gunn claimed that Robert Pattinson would not be the DCU’s Batman. The DC Studios co-CEO explained that the move stemmed from a decision made byThe Batmanfranchise creatorMatt Reeves, who did not want the merger, which Gunn respected.
Creature Commandos Showed A First Look At The DCU’s Batman
The Animated Series Did Not Make Batman Look Like Pattinson
Due to the Hollywood strikes the year before, 2024 was a slow one for movies and TV shows in general. DC continued to plan its slate of projects, with Reeves’The Batman - Part IIscript said to be a priority for the studio. However, despite DC Studios' plans,The Batmansequel ended up being delayed to 2027.The Brave and the Bolddirector Andy Muschietti also revealed bad newsabout his DCU Batman film. According to Muschietti, his next movie is likely to be a sci-fi project he is currently writing, asThe Brave and the Boldhas been postponed.
The Brave and the Bold
The Batman 3
TBD
The news that both Batman movies had been delayed came out on the same day. Thankfully, a week later, January 2025 brought more positive news for fans of the Dark Knight. Batman made his DCU debut in the TV-MA animated seriesCreature Commandos.Batman appeared in episode 6, where it was revealed that the Dark Knight had stopped Doctor Phosphorus' rise as he sought to build a criminal empire in Gotham City. In the DCU series, Batman was shown to be bigger than Robert Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne, and it was teased that he has been active for many years.
Previously, Batman appeared in a vision of a possible future where the Justice League was killed. The Dark Knight was shown alongside David Corenswet’s Superman, Wonder Woman, and several other DCU superheroes. However,Creature Commandosepisode 6 marked the first real canon appearance for the DC hero in Gunn’s DCU. While Batman looked very different from Pattinson’s take on the character, which some thought discredited the rumors that the two franchises could merge, Gunn had already revealed that the animated show’s designs for characters who still had no actors cast were not final, soBatman’s design could change.
Matt Reeves & James Gunn Have Made More Positive Pattinson Batman Comments Recently
Rumors About The Batman Movies Merging Intensified
After the delays of the two Batman movies and the Dark Knight’s DCU debut inCreature Commandos, new updates made it seem like Robert Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne could join the shared universe after all. James Gunn was the first to light up hope for those who wanted to see it happen.Gunn commented more positively about Pattinson’s DCU Batman chancesthan before. While the DCU’s creative chief says he is committed to both DCU and Elseworlds stories —The Batmanfranchise falls into the latter —Gunn revealed that he “contemplated” the merger, and he would have been an “idiot” not to.
After Gunn showed a more positive stance on Pattinson’s DCU chances, it was time forThe Batmandirector Matt Reeves to do the same.Reeves provided an exciting Pattinson DCU update, saying it will come down to “whether or not it makes sense.” The director also claimed he does not know how it will play out and that his focus is on gettingThe Batman - Part IIready and making it the best it can be. Still, Reeves left the door open for the merger, saying,“We’ll have to see where that goes”— far from a hard no.
The Brave And The Bold Director Andy Muschietti Has A Blunt Answer To The Rumors
There Is An Important Caveat With His Comments
Following James Gunn and Matt Reeves' recent comments, fans felt more hopeful about Robert Pattinson’s Batman joining the DCU. However, another important member of the Batman franchise has since made his voice heard.The Brave and the Bolddirector Andy Muschietti shot down the DCU Pattinson rumors. According to the director of Batman’s DCU movie,“It’s quite obvious that Matt Reeves’ Batman is not part of this new universe.“Muschietti was very direct in dispelling the rumors, also revealing thatThe Brave and the Boldwill take longer to arrive to create space between it andThe Batmansequel.
The DC Universe Just Revealed Its New Batman
After Ben Affleck left DC for a new Batman to be cast, James Gunn’s DC Universe has just released the first look at its new Dark Knight.
There is something important to note aboutThe Brave and the Bolddirector’s comments. Muschietti has since said that while he had talks with Gunn about the tone and direction of the DCU Batman’s story in the anticipated film, he hasnot discussed it further with Gunn since before the DC Studios co-CEO started filmingSuperman. Since Gunn and Reeves made somewhat positive comments about Pattinson’s DCU chances in recent weeks, there is a chance that Muschietti might not yet know about any movement in that regard. However, as of now, the twoBatmanfranchises are to remain separate.
The Batman Part II
Cast
The Batman Part II is the sequel to Matt Reeve’s The Batman, released in 2022, and will continue where the original film left off. The film shares a universe with the HBO Max original Penguin series and sees the return of the Riddler and a different incarnation of the Joker.
The Brave and the Bold will introduce audiences to a new Batman in the DC Universe, focusing on the unique dynamic between the Dark Knight and his son, Damian Wayne, who takes on the mantle of Robin. This film marks yet another reboot for the iconic vigilante superhero.
