I Think Putting Robert Pattinson’s Batman In the DCU Is A Horrible Idea – Here’s Why

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The possibility and enthusiasm for Robert Pattinson’s Batman character joining James Gunn’s DC Universe is increasing, but this move could lead to a multitude of issues that might jeopardize the entire project. In 2022, Robert Pattinson made his debut as Batman in the film The Batman, directed and co-written by Matt Reeves. This movie focuses on Bruce Wayne in his second year as Batman, fighting various criminal gangs in Gotham City alongside the enigmatic villain known as The Riddler (Paul Dano). This film marked the beginning of a larger universe called “The Batman Epic Crime Saga”. Following its success, an HBO Max spin-off series titled The Penguin, featuring Colin Farrell’s character Oz Cobblepot, was launched. However, despite the initial film’s success, the sequel, The Batman: Part II, has faced numerous delays and is currently scheduled for release in late 2027.

As James Gunn’s interconnected DC Universe (the DCU) is set to debut with “Superman” in 2025, it seems inevitable that they will also introduce their own Batman character. Although a Batman film, titled “Batman: The Brave and the Bold”, is already scheduled for the DCU, there are ongoing discussions about whether Robert Pattinson’s solo Batman could be adapted as the Batman of the DCU. This idea has garnered significant fan support, but it may pose challenges due to potential negative impacts on Matt Reeves’ franchise if a crossover were attempted.

Matt Reeves and James Gunn’s DC Universes Are Too Different To Exist as One

In the footsteps of Matt Reeves’ Batman universe established in “The Batman,” he has followed a path reminiscent of Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight” trilogy, focusing solely on the Caped Crusader. This means that the worlds of “The Batman” and its spin-off series “The Penguin” are devoid of superpowers or metahumans, instead immersing us in a notably gloomier atmosphere than Nolan’s Batman films ever did.

On the other hand, James Gunn has chosen an entirely different route with the debut of the DCU through “Creature Commandos,” “Superman,” and “Peacemaker” season two. Here, he embraces a vibrant, super-powered universe, a stark contrast to the grittier tone set by Reeves’ Batman franchise.

In Gunn’s version of the DC Universe, it’s assumed and essential that metahumans have been around for centuries, with their presence being a common aspect of life, even before Superman’s debut. James Gunn’s signature humor is evident in all his DC projects so far, varying from mature themes in Creature Commandos and Peacemaker to more kid-friendly content in Superman. Compared to Matt Reeves, Gunn’s approach to developing DC franchises has a distinct style, while the Batman portrayed by Pattinson in Reeves’ take on the franchise is uniquely suited to the particular DC world that Reeves envisioned.

In a similar vein, David Corenswet’s carefree portrayal of Superman mirrors the truth for Batman and Superman on screen as the World’s Finest duo. They not only embody contrasting symbols of heroism in their respective worlds, but also reflect the unique tones set by their cinematic adaptations. Robert Pattinson’s Batman embodies a somber narrative of heroism amidst a Gotham City that supposedly rains 320 days a year, whereas Corenswet’s Superman is as upbeat and friendly as Dewey Riley from Scream, facing seemingly minimal challenges in his superheroic life until the start of Superman. Combining Pattinson’s Batman with Corenswet’s Superman transcends simply juxtaposing opposites and feels akin to attempting to mix oil and water.

DC Keeps Promising Co-Existing Elseworlds – It’s Time To Finally Deliver on That

Discussing the possibility of including Robert Pattinson’s Batman in the DC Universe raises a point about overlooking one of DC’s key strengths – its multiverse, where numerous distinct variations of every hero and villain coexist simultaneously. The idea of the multiverse (often referred to as “Elseworlds” within DC) is crucial to what makes DC unique, and the past five years have seen Warner Bros. emphasizing the multiverse as a significant tool for storytelling in movies and TV. However, so far, Warner Bros. and DC have mostly underdelivered on this promise, with many missed opportunities.

Moving forward, let’s revisit DC Comics’ “Crisis on Infinite Earths” mini-series, the first DC Fandome event of 2020, and “The Flash” from 2023. Over this time, DC has generated significant excitement by suggesting that all its films and TV shows, old and new, exist within a larger multiverse. This intriguing concept allows for greater freedom in the DC universe, as it no longer requires each story to adhere to a single framework or negate others.

In the style of comics, the DC multiverse offers an intriguing proposition: “Why stick to just one version of Batman when there are multiple unique ones to pick?” This sentiment echoes through DC Comics itself, with the stark contrast between the primary storyline and the vastly different characters found in their Absolute Universe. It’s puzzling that while this approach is reflected in the comics, it seems as though DC has not yet fully embraced this mindset in its movies and TV shows, leaving fans yearning for more variety.

The origins of the DC Universe suggest that Gunn endorses this idea, as Superman introduces the notion of pocket universes, and Peacemaker season two expands on it significantly, with the series revealing at least 100 distinct DC realities existing simultaneously. This idea, along with Gunn’s expressed interest in Elseworlds projects within the main DCU, paves the way for Matt Reeves’ The Batman universe to flourish alongside Gunn’s DCU, offering 98 additional alternate realities for DC Studios to explore. This framework set by Gunn makes integrating Pattinson’s Batman into the DCU feel like an intricate game of continuity-based adaptations, and one that leaves open the possibility of a cinematic and television DC multiverse, much like its comic book counterpart, as an exciting prospect yet to fully materialize.

Too Many DC & Marvel Movies Following the Same Template Guarantees Superhero Fatigue

As a supporter, I’m observing that the discourse about the cinematic future of The Batman and the DCU is happening within a broader conversation regarding whether audiences are experiencing “superhero fatigue.” Interestingly, the integration of Pattinson’s Batman into the DCU could unintentionally transform this theoretical trend into a tangible reality in the world of cinema. Critics often cite the underperformance or failure of numerous DC and Marvel films since around 2022 as proof of superhero fatigue, but such reasoning may be oversimplified. The truth is, all genres experience fluctuations in commercial success, and there are numerous variables to consider when trying to understand why recent superhero movies haven’t achieved the box office success of the Avengers: Endgame era.

In simpler terms, despite some superhero films underperforming after COVID and the massive success of 2024’s Deadpool & Wolverine passing the $1 billion mark, it’s incorrect to say that all superhero movies are becoming box office weak points as a rule. Furthermore, even during challenging times for the genre, superhero movies still have the potential to achieve incredible box office success, like Gunn’s Superman which earned $605 million – a feat few other genres can match with such consistent results.

The continuous stream of superhero movies might lead to genuine superhero exhaustion, especially when viewers feel that they’re watching similar content repeatedly. The Marvel Cinematic Universe has established a template for interconnected universes, but it’s often referred to as the “Marvel formula,” indicating that Marvel films tend to feature large ensembles of characters, comedic relief, and hints at future movies or shows in the end credits. To avoid superhero fatigue, DC Studios should aim to make its movies and TV series distinct from each other. Although James Gunn has discussed a wide range of tones for the DC Universe, from more adult-oriented to kid-friendly, introducing Robert Pattinson’s Batman into the DCU might result in consolidating everything DC within specific boundaries that could accelerate audience fatigue. Given that Pattinson’s Batman stands well on his own, having him share the screen with Superman in the DCU seems like a safer approach to diversify DC’s offerings.

Reworking Ongoing DC Franchises From One Style to Another Is a Recipe for Disaster (As the DCEU’s History Shows)

Dawn of Justice. This single decision by Warner Bros. management had a significant impact on the DCEU, leading Affleck to abandon his planned solo Batman movie, multiple other DCEU projects being scrapped amid the behind-the-scenes turmoil, and Zack Snyder’s Justice League of 2021 serving as a constant reminder of a significant misstep in the DCEU’s development.

The Batman movie initially created by Affleck eventually transformed into Matt Reeves’ The Batman starring Robert Pattinson. Reeves decided to keep his version of Batman separate from the superhero-filled DCEU. If attempts are made to incorporate Pattinson’s Batman into the DCU, it could lead to problems similar to those faced by the DCEU in the past. If Matt Reeves is forced to alter his Batman universe to fit the DCU like Justice League and the DCEU were, there’s a risk that disagreements might arise, potentially leading to Reeves, Pattinson, or both leaving the project. This situation reminds us of Affleck departing from The Batman. Both Reeves and James Gunn have different visions for their versions of Batman. Combining them could bring many of the same challenges the DCEU faced, and it would also miss out on utilizing the 100 DC Universes established by Gunn for DC Studios to draw upon.

You can now rent or purchase James Gunn’s Superman on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Fandango Now, while The Batman: Part II is set to hit theaters on October 1st, 2027.

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2025-09-03 00:20