Confirmed: Robert Pattinson Will Not Be the DCU Batman

James Gunn and Peter Safran have officially confirmed that The Brave and the Bold will introduce a new version of Batman into the DC Universe (DCU), definitively ruling out Robert Pattinson from reprising the role in the broader universe.

During a DC Studios presentation attended by IGN, Gunn and Safran clarified that Pattinson will remain the Dark Knight solely within Matt Reeves’ The Batman Epic Crime Saga, and has no plans to crossover into the main DCU continuity.

“It’s certainly not the plan,” Gunn stated when asked about the possibility of Pattinson appearing as Batman in the DCU. “It's certainly not the plan. No.”

Safran added, “We love him, but we’ve got to introduce a Batman into the DCU—that’s imperative. And so that’s the plan with The Brave and the Bold.”

This announcement puts an end to earlier speculation fueled by Reeves himself, who had previously left the door open for Pattinson’s Batman to appear across the DCU.

Confirmed DCU Projects

11 Images

“I think it really comes down to whether or not it makes sense,” Reeves told reporter Josh Horowitz at the Golden Globes. “What’s been great is there was a story that I wanted to tell with what we’re calling The Epic Crime Saga, which is the core of our vision. It’s been important to me to see that through, and James and Peter have been very supportive of that—they’re letting us do our thing.”

He continued, “As for what the future holds, I can’t say. Right now, my focus is entirely on getting The Batman Part 2 into production and making it something truly special—which, of course, is the priority.”

Regarding The Batman Part 2, Safran expressed enthusiasm for Reeves’ direction: “We both love what he’s doing with the sequel, and we’re just as excited to see it as you are.” He noted that while a script hasn’t yet been submitted, the material they’ve reviewed so far is promising.

Meanwhile, The Brave and the Bold is currently in “very active development,” with the story “coming together very nicely,” according to Safran. As for director Andy Muschietti (The Flash), the duo is still working on the script and will present it to him once it reaches a stage where they believe it's ready. “I'm very actively involved in that script,” Gunn emphasized, while Safran hinted that more news about the film would be shared “very soon.”

Last year, The Batman Part 2 faced another delay, pushing its release date to October 1, 2027. If this date holds, it will mark a five-year gap between the debut of Robert Pattinson as Batman and the release of his character’s next solo film.

When asked how this affects the potential release window for The Brave and the Bold, Safran simply replied, “Well, I think we've announced that there will be a Batman movie in October 2027. That’s all we can share right now.”

While fans eagerly await The Brave and the Bold, recent DCU content has already offered a glimpse of Batman. In Episode 6 of Creature Commandos, viewers saw the Caped Crusader standing atop a rooftop overlooking crime boss Doctor Phosphorus. Though the image showed a muscular Batman in his classic suit, little else was revealed about Gunn’s interpretation of the character.

In an interview with Rotten Tomatoes TV following the episode’s release, Gunn explained that the intentionally vague silhouette was a deliberate choice. “I asked for more silhouette” after seeing the initial design, which featured too much detail for his liking.

That brief appearance, however, served an important narrative purpose—it confirmed that Batman exists within the DCU during the events shown in Creature Commandos and this year’s Superman film, and is already a well-known figure. This eliminates the need for retelling his widely known origin story.

Gunn also hinted at a future collaboration between Batman and Superman, saying, “This is the DCU Batman. Listen, I gotta tell you—I just love Batman. I love him. I’ve loved him since I was a kid. He’s one of my favorite characters. I’ve gone on record before, even 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.”