Who will be the new Batman in the DC Universe? That’s still a big mystery! While we know who won’t be donning the cowl for The Brave and the Bold – like Robert Pattinson from Matt Reeves’ separate ‘Batman Epic Crime Saga’ or even stars like Alan Ritchson and Chris Pratt – the role remains open.
DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn has been famously tight-lipped about his vision for Batman, admitting earlier this year that the character poses his “biggest issue in all of DC right now.”
In a recent interview on “2 Bears, 1 Cave,” Gunn opened up about the passionate, sometimes overwhelming, fan requests concerning Batman. The conversation sparked when host Tom Segura inquired if we’d ever see a ‘blue gray Batman,’ a classic comic book look. Segura suggested it’s what everyone wants, a notion Gunn quickly challenged.
“No, it’s not everybody,” Gunn responded. “It’s not everybody because I have somebody saying, ‘Please give us this Batman,’ and then they put a picture of the blue gray Batman on Threads or whatever. And then somebody else says, ‘You’re a piece of s**t.’ I’m like, ‘He’s a piece of s**t because he likes…’ that is pretty harsh!”
Gunn highlighted what he called the “religious aspect” of these fan discussions, finding it “very uncomfortable.” He pointed out debates over details like Batman having white eyes, a yellow utility belt, or the yellow crest around the bat symbol. “It’s like guys, like, that’s really what matters?” he questioned. “But those are the things they care about.”
For Gunn, these cosmetic elements are secondary. “None of those things are what’s most important to me. What matters is the character, the story. And I think that we have a really, really good story now for what’s happening with Batman.”
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He further elaborated on the character’s enduring appeal: “I think that’s one of the fun things about Batman, though, is that there are so many expressions of Batman that are cool. And different ways to access that character is one of the ways in which he’s so iconic.”
“So, I don’t think it’s a matter of the blue and the gray or the black Batman. I think both those things are really cool. I like the detective Batman, but I also really like the fighter Batman that’s just the brute that’s fighting. I like the silly 50s Silver Age Batman with Bat-Mite that’s kind of closer to what the original Batman TV show was like. I like all of these different versions of Batman.”
Gunn’s comments shed light on the intense focus surrounding the DCU’s Batman, extending beyond just casting to the hero’s visual identity. He’s been clear about the kind of Batman he aims for – and more importantly, the kind he’s steering clear of.
Earlier this year, Gunn stated: “Batman has to have a reason for existing, right? So Batman can’t just be ‘Oh, we’re making a Batman movie because Batman’s the biggest character in all of Warner Bros.,’ which he is. But because there’s a need for him in the DCU and a need that he’s not exactly the same as Matt’s Batman.”
He continued, emphasizing his preference: “But yet he’s not a campy Batman. I’m not interested in that. I’m not interested in a funny, campy Batman, really. So we’re dealing with that. I think I have a way in, by the way. I think I really know what it’s — I just am dealing with the writer to make sure that we can make it a reality.”
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While fans eagerly await The Brave and the Bold for a proper introduction to Gunn’s Batman, a brief glimpse appeared in Episode 6 of the DCU’s canon-setting animated series, Creature Commandos. Batman was shown on a rooftop, facing off against Doctor Phosphorus. This quick shot revealed a formidable Caped Crusader in his classic attire, but offered minimal detail about Gunn’s specific interpretation.
Gunn later explained to Rotten Tomatoes TV why this appearance was so ambiguous. He admitted to requesting “more silhouette” for the initial design, as he wasn’t ready to commit to intricate character specifics at that stage.
However, this brief cameo did confirm Batman’s established presence within the DCU during the events of Creature Commandos and the upcoming Superman movie. This means there’s no need to re-tread his well-known origin story.
Gunn also dropped an intriguing hint about a future team-up between the DCU’s Batman and Superman.
“This is the DCU Batman,” he affirmed regarding the Creature Commandos appearance. “Listen, I gotta tell you, I just love Batman. I love him. I’ve loved him since I was a little kid. He’s one of my favorite characters. I’ve gone on the record in the past when I was at Marvel saying my favorite character is Batman. I love him and we’re going to do great things with him. He’s the most popular superhero in the world and I can’t wait for people to see more of him, along with Superman, and together.”
Returning to the “2 Bears, 1 Cave” interview, Gunn discussed his childhood favorite version of Batman, potentially offering a clue for The Brave and the Bold. He cited 1970’s Batman #227, which was a supernatural take on the Caped Crusader by writer Dennis O’Neil and artist Irv Novick, featuring an iconic Neal Adams cover. This darker, grittier O’Neil/Adams era, which moved away from the campy TV show, was highly influential for Gunn.
“As a kid, reading the early ‘70s Neal Adams Batman comics that were much darker and grittier, I was like, ‘Oh, I like this Batman.’ I had seen the sillier Batman on TV and I’m like, ‘Oh, this is gritty, cool Batman.’ That was the thing that made me feel more like, if not an adult, at least a teenager when I was eight or nine years old.”
He added, “That was a Batman that we’ve never seen. That was my favorite story. That was in a compilation of Batman comics that I read and I just thought it was the greatest ever. And it was supernatural Batman, too, which is something we’ve never seen, Batman in like a sort of supernatural environment.”
Could this hint at a supernatural twist for the DCU Batman? Fans might have to wait a while for a clearer picture, with other DCU projects like Supergirl, Clayface, and Man of Tomorrow slated for 2026 and 2027. Furthermore, with Matt Reeves’ The Batman 2 (2027) and a potential The Batman 3, Gunn faces the unique challenge of having two distinct Batman portrayals in separate DC universes.
This article was written by Wesley Yin-Poole, Director of News at IGN.