Robert Pattinson Not Playing New Batman: DC’s James Gunn Dropped Bombshell

DC Studios co-owners are planning to reboot DC Universe, which they already have by replacing Henry Cavill’s Superman with David Corenswet. The same rumors were flying in the air about James Gunn’s new Batman. DCU Batman recast is substantiated by Gunn himself.

The news about Robert Pattinson not playing new Batman is confirmed by James Gunn. It’s official that Robert Pattinson will not be seen on-screen in the new Batman film The Brave and the Bold. 

Why Isn’t Robert Pattinson the new DC Batman?

DC Studios co-heads, Gunn and Peter Safran have planned to move forward to bring a new actor for a brand new version of Batman. According to Mashable, Gunn revealed the details in an interview when asked about Robert Pattinson for the new Batman. He said, 

“That’s not the plan. Like, it’s certainly not the plan”.

Safran too verified the decision by adding that they do love Robert Pattinson as he had portrayed brilliantly in the previous Batman movie and people loved it. But he is not there in the next Batman’s film called The Brave and the Bold. He will be in Matt Reeves’ Batman universe, which is considered DC Elseworlds- a separate narrative of the DC comics other than that of Gunn and Safran.

A REMINDER! Just for the sake of refining the difference between DC canon and Elseworlds, while the latter is a separate narrative stating a possibility of a character with a different story regarding a “what if” storyline, DC canon is a narrative continuity within the DC universe. The storyline is considered a core part of the entire verse.

The Brave and the Bold will be directed by Andy Muschietti who directed Flash (2023) and both parts of It (2017 and 2019) whereas Robert Pattinson’s Batman (2022) was directed by Matt Reeves. 

Comic Book also corroborated that Matt Reeves’ Batman trilogy and his Penguin series will not be a part of the DC Universe. The Brave and the Bold will be a separate Gunn and Safran’s project.  HBO’s The Penguin (2024) was also directed by Matt Reeves which was a majestic success.

As soon as Gunn and Safran took over the reins of DC Studios two years ago, they wanted to reactivate the DCU “under one unified umbrella”, cited by Slash Film. The reason they attributed to the failure of the previous DC Universe, or rather multiverse was each creative team pursuing its own version of the characters. Collaboration and coordination were missing, eventually harming the brand’s identity.

(This article has been updated with the above-cited piece of information soon after the available news flashes.)

New Batman, New Actor! Who will play the new DC Batman? 

No confirmation on the new DC Batman is given by the co-CEOs. Batman and Superman, set to release this summer, are two of the most recognized characters of the DC universe.

All DC fans have eyes on the next Batman after the explosive news broke since there were mixed reviews about the reveal of the new Superman in its latest trailer. 

Though the next Batman film project is in “active development”, confirmed by Safran, no actor is attached to the project as yet. The decision of the new Batman actor would be game changing for the future of DC universe. 

 

 

 

 

 

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What is James Gunn’s vision of the new Batman?

Safran teased about the project’s developments that the script is in the works and the “story is coming together nicely”. 

Keeping Reeves’ version of Batman aside, which the director will continue to unfold in the next parts of his trilogy, The Brave and the Bold will be based on 1955’s Grant Morrison comic book run, which is Gunn’s personal favorite, Collider mentioned. 

After having revealed the roadmap to the new DC Universe, Gunn and Safron want the storyline to focus on the comic’s ‘Batman and son’ plot. The comic speaks about Batman’s estranged son, Damian Wayne, who would be introduced in The Brave and the Bold, Batman’s child with Talia al Ghul. 

Who is Damian?

This would be an entirely different angle from what we have been watching in the DC universe regarding Batman. Damian Wayne is the grandson of the demon, Ra’s al Ghul, also heir to their League of Assassins. 

According to the comic, he is arrogant and temperamental but is adept at being a ninja, possessing the best of his mother’s traits at the age of 10 years only. He is often furious when it comes to fighting the villains. 

Damian was initially trained to be a murderer and assassin, rigorously trained by the League of Assassins. Later, when he flees with his mother to Gotham, they meet Batman, who comes to know about his son after the first eight to ten years of his life.

Soon when Damian joins the Bat family, he is involved in conflict with Batman and the rest of the family members. 

Under Batman’s wings of morals, his character transforms as he learns to value heroism and empathy. His mission of vengeance changes to the mission of justice.

It would be interesting to see him as Robin who also joins Teen Titans. People loved Robin as more authoritative character in the comics. It would be equally exciting if the same storyline is rendered in the new Batman movie. 

Will Robert Pattinson not playing new Batman be a permanent decision?

Based on Mashable reports, Robert Pattinson’s return as Bruce Wayne in “The Batman: Part II” is expected in 2027, which will be again directed by Matt Reeves. It is expected to start filming at the end of 2025, as per Deadline. 

Robert Pattinson did not reveal details about the story of Batman II except that “it’s cool though, it’s cool”. However, Reeves validated that the second part would take off from where the first part left.

Reeves explained, “We’re doing something that continues where the story came from and something I hope people are really surprised by”. [Source]

There is a Batman trilogy that only Reeves is heading. The first was the one with Robert Pattinson where he portrayed a young caped Crusader who was new to the dark world, was confused and seen tangled in the intricacies of Gotham city. 

Will Robert Pattinson’s Batman films be part of the new DC Universe? Future of The Batman part II?

James Gunn further elucidated that Robert Pattinson might be on any other project of the DC universe later, but for Batman’s next project, Pattinson is not in DCU for now. Gunn clarified that Pattinson will be in Reeves’ The Batman Part II, but still not be his next Batman for the rebooted DC-verse.  

James Gunn himself is a big fan of Batman and loves Pattinson’s version of the character as well. To clarify his stance on Robert Pattinson’s Batman future, he did not rule out the possibility of him being in the cast again, as he kept the chances alive for Pattinson to show up in anything else in the future. 

When will the new DC Batman film be released?

The makers are yet to decide on the final release date of The Brave and the Bold. Previously, there have been discrepancies about the delay of The Brave and the Bold, which James Gunn clarified that it has not been delayed and Matt Reeves did not lie when he said that they are finishing the script, disclosed by Movie Web. 

DC Studios is working on several other projects at the moment, such as the launch of the new Superman, whose movie is coming out July 11, 2025. Moreover, the soft launch of Creature Commandos and projects of DC’s Chapter 1- Gods and Monsters, enlisting Lanterns and Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow are in the pipeline. 

It suggests that James Gunn is right about the delay rumors since there is no release date in the first place. Also, The Batman Part II sequel delay is creating another new hype on the internet, which Gunn cooled down a bit, asking the fans to let Reeves work on it with full focus before it comes to the screens.

One important update given by Comic Book Resource is about a fan asking Gunn over Threads whether The Brave and the Bold will be released after Reeves’ Batman trilogy is concluded, to which Gunn said “no”. 

Who do you think should play the new Batman? Drop comments.