The DC Universe has officially commenced. James Gunn and Peter Safran have launched their new shared universe for DC Studios with animated series Creature Commandos ahead of the launch of Gunn’s own Superman movie this year. That film will kick off the live-action stories set within the franchise and it is already one of the most anticipated movies of the year.
The DC Universe will relaunch DC Comics’ attempt at a live-action shared universe the like of Marvel Studios’ MCU after the former DCEU didn’t quite sustain its early momentum. A number of classic, in-development or ongoing DC properties were unfortunately cancelled to make way for that, leaving the universe in need of new heroes, and new actors to play the roles. However, there are also some returning DCEU cast members too, with the Peacemaker ensemble and Viola Davis all set to reprise their roles in the new franchise.
But there is one legendary DC hero who hasn’t had his future outright confirmed and fans have been longing to know what that future will look like in the DCU. We know he will be involved in the new franchise, but there were multiple ways that introduction could go. That is, until it was recently confirmed that a new actor would indeed be cast in the role.
It’s official: A new Batman actor will be cast in James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DC Universe. It was the first DCU title that confirmed this, as the sixth episode of animated series Creature Commandos took us to Gotham City, where we were given our first glimpse at the DCU’s Dark Knight – and let’s just say he looks very different to the current movie Caped Crusader Robert Pattinson, confirming that the The Batman star won’t be joining the newly-born DCU as the iconic hero.
If you needed further proof, however, director Andy Muschietti, who is set to direct the DCU’s Batman movie The Brave and the Bold confirmed this as well in a recent interview. Speaking to Radio TU (translated by Reel Anarchy), he said:
“… the Batman featured in The Brave and the Bold will belong to the new DC Universe. It’s quite obvious that Matt Reeves’ Batman is not part of this new universe.”
Pattinson first debuted as the Dark Knight in Matt Reeves’ The Batman in 2022, which was a resounding success at the box office. He will reprise his role in the upcoming sequel, which will now arrive in theaters in October 2027, meaning that the franchise will continue, running parallel to the DCU. Yes, that means we will have two separate Batman actors on the big screen at the same time (although the films will be spaced out to avoid confusion from the mainstream audience).
When it was first confirmed that a new DC Universe would take form at the brand new DC Studios (and the DC cancellations began), fans of The Batman worried what that would mean for the future of Matt Reeves’ film series. However, considering that it was critically and commercially successful, the decision was made to keep it going, all while it remained separate from the DCU. James Gunn subsequently confirmed that they would be looking for a new Batman actor to star in The Brave and the Bold.
That said, in recent months, a number of rumors suggested that Pattinson’s Batman, Colin Farrell’s Penguin, and all involved in that story would actually be canon to the DC Universe. From the recent success of HBO’s The Penguin series to the lack of a definitive Batman in the DCU after two years, fans were beginning to speculate that it would eventually be confirmed that Pattinson’s Caped Crusader would actually join David Corenswet’s Superman as part of the new shared universe. But now we know that won’t be the case.
With one season of Creature Commandos and a trailer for Superman under its belt, we can’t really gauge the complete tone of the DC Universe just yet, but it is clear that it’s a completely different one from the moodier, grittier world of Matt Reeves’ The Batman movie and TV franchise. For that reason, allowing them to remain separate and casting a new Batman actor is probably the right decision. And yet, the idea of Pattinson’s Batman and Corenswet’s Superman crossing paths is an enticing one.
In another universe, perhaps. In the meantime, we’re excited to meet the DCU’s new Batman whenever The Brave and the Bold arrives in movie theaters.
After months of speculation it has been confirmed that Robert Pattinson won’t be playing Batman in the DC Universe and that a new actor will play the role. Read More