Robert Pattinson Out as DCU Batman: Confirmed

James Gunn and Peter Safran have officially announced that The Brave and the Bold will introduce a new Batman to the DCU, explicitly ruling out actor Robert Pattinson from this role. During a DC Studios presentation attended by IGN, the co-chiefs clarified that Pattinson will continue to portray Batman solely within director Matt Reeves’ The Batman Epic Crime Saga.

"It's certainly not the plan," Gunn stated about the possibility of Pattinson crossing over into the DCU. Safran echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the need to introduce a new Batman into the DCU. "And we love him, but we've got to introduce a Batman into the DCU," he said. "That's imperative. And so that's the plan with The Brave and the Bold."

The speculation about Pattinson potentially playing Batman across the entire DCU arose earlier this year when Reeves hinted at the possibility. "It really comes down to whether or not it makes sense," Reeves told reporter Josh Horowitz at the Golden Globes. He emphasized his focus on developing The Batman Part 2 and expressed gratitude for Gunn and Safran's support in allowing him to pursue his vision for the Epic Crime Saga.

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Safran expressed enthusiasm for Reeves’ vision for The Batman Part 2, noting that while they have yet to receive a full script, the early drafts are promising. Meanwhile, The Brave and the Bold is in active development, with Gunn and Safran closely involved in crafting the script. They plan to present it to The Flash director Andy Muschietti once it's ready, to see if he would be a good fit to direct. More details about The Brave and the Bold are expected to be announced soon.

The release of The Batman Part 2 has been delayed to October 1, 2027, marking a five-year gap since the debut of Robert Pattinson as the Dark Knight. When asked about the release window for The Brave and the Bold, Safran was tight-lipped, only confirming that there will be a Batman movie in October 2027.

While fans eagerly await The Brave and the Bold to see Gunn's take on Batman, a brief glimpse of the character was provided in Episode 6 of the DCU canon kickstarter series, Creature Commandos. The scene showed Batman overlooking crime boss Doctor Phosphorus, hinting at his presence and reputation within the DCU. Gunn explained that this generic portrayal was intentional, focusing on silhouette rather than detailed features to keep the character's design open for future development.

Batman in Creature Commandos. Image credit: Max. Gunn further clarified that this Batman already exists within the DCU, eliminating the need for an origin story and confirming his established presence. Moreover, Gunn hinted at an exciting future collaboration between Batman and Superman, expressing his deep affection for the character and his anticipation for their joint adventures in the DCU.