Despite James Gunn’s Update, the DCU’s Batman Is Still the Best Chance To Break a 27-Year Dark Knight Streak

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The next Batman movie, directed by Matt Reeves, is currently scheduled for release in October 2027, with filming starting this spring after some delays. However, this creates a challenge for James Gunn, who is leading DC Studios. Reeves’ Batman films exist in their own separate world, outside the main DC Universe timeline, as part of the ‘Elseworlds’ concept. This means DC will eventually need to introduce its own version of Batman that can appear alongside characters like David Corenswet’s Superman. Having two separate, ongoing Batman movie series is unprecedented, and presents a significant obstacle for Gunn and his team to overcome.

James Gunn initially appeared to be successfully building a new DC Universe, and a key part of that was the upcoming Batman movie, *The Brave and the Bold*. This film promised to explore the dynamic between an older Bruce Wayne and his son, Damian, who would become the fifth Robin – a pairing popular in the comics. It would have been the first time audiences saw Batman with a sidekick in a live-action movie since the poorly received *Batman & Robin* in 1997. However, recent news from Gunn suggests Robin might not appear in the film after all, though the character is still expected to have a role somewhere in the DC Universe.

James Gunn’s DCU Batman Update Explained

So, I was reading an interview with James Gunn the other day, and he was talking about *The Brave and the Bold*. Someone asked him about stuff like whether we’d see Robin or a more seasoned Batman, and he played it pretty close to the vest. He basically said ‘you’ll have to wait and see!’ He hinted that a lot of the initial ideas about Batman’s backstory – you know, his family and all that – are still being worked out and nothing is set in stone. Sounds like the script is still in progress, and they’re definitely still figuring things out. It’s exciting, but a little frustrating not knowing more!

It’s positive that James Gunn is willing to make changes as the script develops. Allowing the story to evolve naturally can lead to better creative choices. Instead of stubbornly sticking to an initial idea that isn’t working, flexibility can result in a more authentic narrative. Maybe, as the story took shape, someone realized that making Batman a father didn’t quite fit with the larger DC Universe plan. But if we’re going to have two different versions of Batman, each one needs to feel distinct. A story inspired by *Brave and the Bold* could help this new Batman stand out.

The DCU’s Batman Needs Robin In Order to Feel Unique

Having two different actors play Batman at the same time could be confusing for viewers who don’t follow DC Comics closely, so the filmmakers need to clearly explain why both versions exist. Initially, the plan was to show a younger Batman just starting his career in Matt Reeves’ films (as seen in *The Batman*, where he’s only been fighting crime for two years), while the main DC Universe would feature an older Batman leading a team of heroes. This would have made it easy for audiences to tell them apart: if you saw Batman with Robin, it would be the DC Universe version.

As a movie reviewer, I’m a little worried about what’s happening with *The Brave and the Bold*. The recent Batman films – *The Batman* and *The Penguin* – have been fantastic, and really struck a chord with audiences. But if the new DCU introduces *another* Batman operating separately, just fighting crime in Gotham with a little help from Jim Gordon, it risks feeling repetitive. It would leave viewers asking why we couldn’t just continue with Robert Pattinson’s Batman in the shared universe. To me, the point of having a DCU Batman should be to tell stories that Matt Reeves’ version simply couldn’t. It wouldn’t make sense for Pattinson’s younger Batman to mentor someone else. Instead, the DCU has a real opportunity to show us a completely different side of the character and truly carve out its own identity.

It’s been a long time since we’ve seen a proper live-action Robin (Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s character in *The Dark Knight Rises* doesn’t really count). Robin is a key part of Batman’s story, and there’s a lot of untapped potential with the character. After the negative reaction to *Batman & Robin*, filmmakers seemed hesitant to include Robin in movies, fearing similar criticism. However, that’s unfair – *Batman & Robin* wasn’t disliked because of Robin, but because of its overly campy style. Robin has thrived in other formats like comics, TV shows, and video games, proving he can work in a darker, more serious setting. James Gunn doesn’t seem interested in a campy Batman, but his appreciation for comic book stories suggests he could be the one to successfully introduce Robin into the new DC Universe.

The DC Universe doesn’t appear to be abandoning the idea of Robins altogether. Fans have noticed posters for the Flying Graysons on the set of the *Clayface* movie, which is a clear nod to Dick Grayson, the original Robin. We don’t yet know where *Clayface* fits in the DCU timeline, but it’s possible Batman has already trained at least one Robin during the film’s events—maybe Dick is even operating as Nightwing at this point. It seems the DCU might be putting the Damian Wayne version of Robin on hold for now, potentially saving it for a later movie. With James Gunn’s planned release date for *The Brave and the Bold* approaching, we should get a better understanding of the future of the character soon.

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2025-10-05 22:15