I’m Convinced James Gunn Is Wrong About DC Having 2 Batmans (but There’s No Other Way)

by

Fans were thrilled when Robert Pattinson became Batman in Matt Reeves’ The Batman, and they’ve been wanting news about a sequel ever since 2022. But recent statements from James Gunn hint at something new: a DC Universe where we might have two different versions of Batman at once. Matt Reeves’ The Batman: Part II will continue as a separate story in the Elseworlds, while a completely new Batman will be introduced in The Brave and the Bold.

The idea of having two different actors play Batman has already caused discussion among fans. However, James Gunn recently addressed these worries in an interview with Brandon Davis, explaining, “People who don’t follow comics closely will likely just think, ‘Oh, that’s strange,’ and move on,” implying that most viewers won’t be bothered by having two Batmans. However, past experiences show that featuring multiple versions of a popular superhero in movies can sometimes create confusion, particularly when it’s a character as famous as Batman. This is a potential issue the studio will need to navigate.

James Gunn Tells Fans To Chill Out About Two Batmans

During his conversation with Davis, Gunn pointed out that dedicated fans frequently overthink how important consistent storylines are to most viewers. He drew a parallel to how Peacemaker unexpectedly included references to the Justice League, or how the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) changed teams and used different terms across its movies and TV series. When fans raise concerns about continuity, Gunn said, “Honestly, you’re the ones who are getting caught up on this.” Gunn believes that passionate fans often assume casual viewers will be confused by inconsistencies, but in reality, those viewers aren’t focused on maintaining strict canon.

That’s a valid concern, and James Gunn’s success with Marvel demonstrates his ability to attract a broad audience, but completely ignoring the worry could be a mistake. Batman isn’t a secondary character; he’s DC’s most valuable and recognizable hero. Imagine if general moviegoers go to see The Batman: Part II in 2027, only to discover another Batman film is already scheduled for the following year with a different actor. There’s definitely a chance that could confuse many viewers.

Gunn Might Be Dismissing Fans Too Quickly

Consider Sony’s Venom series and the timeline of Morbius, alongside the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Spider-Man story. When Venom was set to release in 2018, Kevin Feige clearly stated it was a Sony production, and definitely not connected to the MCU. However, trailers for Morbius featured Vulture, which led some fans to believe Spider-Man’s story was starting to cross over. This combination of guest appearances, company collaborations, and shared intellectual property, without enough clear explanation, caused confusion among viewers about which projects were officially part of the MCU and which weren’t. As a result, many people watched the Sony films thinking they would affect the larger cinematic universe.

Regarding the X-Men films from Fox, Logan was specifically presented as a separate story, with Hugh Jackman confirming it wasn’t tied to the existing X-Men plotlines. However, Wolverine’s cameo in Deadpool and the continued presence of characters from the original X-Men movies created confusion for viewers about which films were officially part of the main story. This resulted in a complicated and inconsistent timeline that was difficult for both casual watchers and dedicated fans to follow. After Disney bought Fox, James McAvoy, who played Professor Charles Xavier starting with X-Men: First Class, has openly admitted he’s unsure how the X-Men will fit into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. If even the actors aren’t sure which universe their characters belong to, you can imagine how confusing it must be for regular audiences trying to keep up with movie releases and previews.

The Marvel cinematic universe grew so complex and vast that it actually started to work against itself. Many fans got lost in the details or fell behind, and ultimately stopped being interested. Beyond just the confusing storylines, there’s also the issue of having *too much* content. Batman is already a frequently adapted superhero, having been played by actors like Keaton, Bale, Affleck, and now Pattinson. If DC wants to build a universe like Marvel’s, they need to make sure the movies are consistently good and that different storylines don’t overlap too much, or they risk losing viewers and seeing ticket sales decrease.

Sticking Reeves in Elseworlds Might Be the Only Option

While Gunn’s downplaying of possible audience confusion is a bit worrying, it’s hard to see a better solution. They can’t really leave out Batman in the new DCU because he’s so important to the Justice League, and doing so would seriously damage the shared universe from the start. However, Reeves’ Elseworlds story is incredibly popular, so canceling it isn’t an option. Trying to integrate Pattinson’s Batman into the main DCU would mean forcing Reeves’ darker, more realistic world to connect with Gunn’s brighter vision, which would create an awkward mismatch in tone and ultimately hurt both versions of the story.

This approach of having two Batmans could genuinely be the best solution. The success of this plan hinges on keeping them distinct: letting Reeves continue exploring his dark, detective-focused Bat-verse, while the DCU’s Batman can be a more traditional, vibrant comic book hero. Effective promotion, clear differences in style, and, most importantly, strong writing for both versions, will be crucial to turning this potential problem into a winning situation. It’s a gamble, but it could be the only way to enjoy the strengths of both interpretations. It’s a bold move, but potentially rewarding.

https://comicbook.com/movies/news/every-live-action-version-of-batman-ranked-by-strength/embed/#

Read More

2025-09-30 20:16