Is the New Superman Movie Connected to The Batman With Robert Pattinson?

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As a dedicated comic book enthusiast and moviegoer who has witnessed the ebb and flow of DC’s cinematic universe for over two decades, I must say that James Gunn’s decision to keep “The Batman” separate from the revamped DC Universe (DCU) seems like a smart move.

At last, we get a glimpse of James Gunn’s new take on Superman through the trailer, offering fans their initial peek at the updated version of the Man of Steel. Slated for release in theaters next July 2025, this film kicks off the revamped DC Universe series, marking the start of a fresh chapter as DC Studios’ co-heads Gunn and Peter Safran shape a connected cinematic universe, populated by various DC characters. Intriguingly, Superman swiftly introduces other superheroes into the DC Universe, with characters such as Mister Terrific, Green Lantern, Hawkgirl, among others, having significant roles. Consequently, some spectators might ponder if this Superman film is linked to a well-known recent revamp of the DC universe.

In 2022, Robert Pattinson took on the role of the modern Batman in “The Batman,” launching Matt Reeves’ Batman Crime Epic Series apart from the DC Extended Universe. This standalone storyline persists independently. “The Batman,” “The Penguin” and other Gotham-centric projects by Reeves and his team bear no connection whatsoever to Superman.

Why James Gunn Kept The Batman & the DCU Separate

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In a different scenario, Robert Pattinson’s portrayal of Batman in “The Batman” could have been part of the DC Universe. However, director James Gunn initially considered this before ultimately deciding against it. His choice appears to stem from the allure of creating Elseworlds stories, which offer filmmakers freedom to develop captivating tales that don’t adhere strictly to a single, consistent narrative. In the comics, Elseworlds refers to titles where characters are reimagined in unique ways, separate from the primary continuity. It seems the same approach may be taken on the film and TV side for DC; however, what other Elseworlds projects will appear on screen is yet to be revealed.

It might be advantageous to maintain “The Batman” as a standalone film apart from the DC Universe. This decision aligns with director Matt Reeves’ intention when he took on the project, allowing him to explore stories that captivate him most without the constraints of a larger shared universe. Imposing his vision for Batman within this context could potentially lead Reeves to reconsider his involvement, which would be unfortunate. Both “The Batman” and “The Penguin” have received positive reception, and audiences eagerly await “The Batman Part II”, despite the sequel’s production challenges. Thus far, Reeves has effectively left his mark on Gotham, a strategy that seems to be working exceptionally well.

The DCU Will Have Its Own Batman

Of course, Batman is too important a character to be absent from the DCU, so there will be a separate iteration in Gunn’s franchise. The in-development movie The Brave and the Bold (set to be directed by Andrew Muschietti) differs from Reeves’ version in that it will star an older Caped Crusader, placing an emphasis on his relationship with the Bat Family. This will be a space to explore a veteran Batman’s dynamic with characters like Robin, Nightwing, Batgirl, and others, something that hasn’t been done in live-action for decades.

The release date for “The Brave and the Bold” has yet to be determined, as Warner Bros. may prefer not to debut it too close to “The Batman Part II,” slated for an October 2026 premiere. James Gunn recently mentioned that the script for “The Brave and the Bold” isn’t fully complete yet, suggesting that production might still be a ways off.

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2024-12-20 02:40