James Gunn Clarifies Why The Batman Isn't Part Of The DCU
Robert Pattinson's Dark Knight will not be part of the new DC Universe, and James Gunn explains why The Batman is set in its own universe.
Summary
- The Batman stands apart from the DC Universe as director Matt Reeves wants to keep his own distinctive vision.
- Pattinson will continue as the Caped Crusader in The Batman - Part II.
- This decision allows both The Batman and the DCU to have their own unique Dark Knight interpretations.
James Gunn has explained why The Batman is not part of the new DC Universe. Pattinson will return for The Batman - Part II, while the DCU will have its own Dark Knight. Details from The Brave and the Bold movie, which will introduce the DCU's Batman and his son Damian Wayne, are currently kept under lock. However, Gunn has commented on why Pattinson's Bruce Wayne will not join the DCU.
On Threads, Gunn explained why Pattinson's Dark Knight and The Batman universe are not part of the new DCU.
There is a very good reason why Pattinson's Batman is not one of the DCU's canon characters, as Gunn revealed that he was not responsible for blocking The Batman from existing within the DCU when asked by a fan. According to the DC Studios co-CEO, The Batman director Matt Reeves simply chose not to mix the two worlds, and Gunn and DC respect his decision.
The Batman - Part II: News, Cast, Story, & Everything We Know
The Batman's ending teased a future film, and The Batman 2 has sure enough been confirmed. Here's everything we know about The Batman - Part IIWhat We Know About The Batman - Part II So Far
Reeves and Pattinson will team up once again for The Batman - Part II. Like every project, the DC movie was impacted by the Hollywood strikes, which resulted in script and filming delays for The Batman sequel. Following the end of the Writers Guild of America strike, it was reported that The Batman - Part II script was being fast-tracked by the studio.
Pattinson and crew were initially said to begin filming on The Batman - Part II last November, which was not possible due to the strikes. Currently, the film is rumored to go before cameras in March 2024. As The Batman - Part II is scheduled for an October 2, 2025, release, the DC movie would need to start shooting in October 2024 to make its release date, as a production timeline of a year is usually what superhero movies work with. Based on that, The Batman - Part II is unlikely to be delayed.
As for The Batman - Part II's story, while villains like Mr. Freeze and Hush have been rumored for the movie, director Matt Reeves has yet to reveal any concrete details of its plot. What is known is that the upcoming The Penguin series will bridge the gap between The Batman and its sequel. Pattinson's Batman should be joined by returning players such as Andy Serkis' Alfred Pennyworth, Jeffrey Wright's Jim Gordon, Zoë Kravitz's Catwoman, and Colin Farrell's Penguin. Joker actor Barry Keoghan also recently teased his role as the villain in The Batman sequel, so it stands to be seen just what the Elseworlds movie has in store.
The Batman - Part II releases on October 2, 2025. The DCU's The Brave and the Bold currently has no release date set.
Source:James Gunn/Threads
