Zack Snyder’s Batman v Superman Proves Why James Gunn Is Right to Delay the DCU Batman

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Ten years after its release, Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice remains a controversial film. While it was historic – bringing Batman and Superman together on screen for the first time – it didn’t launch the successful DC Extended Universe Warner Bros. hoped for. Despite making a lot of money, the movie received poor reviews and ultimately led the studio to move away from director Zack Snyder’s plans for future superhero films.

It’s striking how, a decade after the first film came out, Warner Bros. and DC Studios find themselves in a similar situation. They have a talented director delivering a popular and grounded version of Batman that resonates with fans, and another director tasked with building a cohesive, realistic world for all of DC’s characters. This actually happened before with James Gunn and Matt Reeves’ current plans – it also applied to Zack Snyder and Christopher Nolan, who worked on Batman v. Superman.

Instead of a Sequel to Man of Steel, Warner Bros. Wanted to Rush the DCEU Into Being

Just two weeks after Man of Steel came out, plans for a sequel were already underway. Over the years, Zack Snyder wanted a title that better highlighted the formation of the Justice League. However, Warner Bros., eager to compete with Marvel Studios, pushed for a title that included both Superman and Batman. This disagreement – a common struggle between creative vision and commercial demands – foreshadowed the larger issues that plagued the future of the franchise.

When the official title was revealed alongside the start of filming, comic book fans were thrilled. While people playfully teased the lengthy title, the use of the word “vs.”, and Ben Affleck’s casting as Batman, any glimpse of the movie – whether from set photos or official announcements – generated huge excitement. Even Star Wars director J.J. Abrams joined in, and both directors shared enthusiastic posts on social media, building anticipation for each other’s films.

The movie finally came out and had a huge opening weekend, breaking records. While it still made Warner Bros. money overall, ticket sales quickly declined afterward. Unfortunately, critics didn’t share the initial excitement, delivering reviews that were quite different from the pre-release buzz. This also led to a lot of attention on Ben Affleck’s seemingly downcast demeanor during interviews, which became a popular online meme.

Fan reactions were noticeably better, although not overwhelmingly enthusiastic. The DC Extended Universe consistently faced a split in opinions between viewers, critics, and industry professionals. This lack of unified support contributed to Warner Bros.’s declining confidence in Zack Snyder’s ambitious plan for a darker, more dramatic cinematic universe—one intended to stand apart from the generally lighter tone of the Marvel Cinematic Universe—especially as the company was navigating a massive merger.

Batman v Superman: The Ultimate Cut Rehabilitates the Movie, but Proves Zack Snyder Needed More Time

Zack Snyder didn’t just need Warner Bros.’ backing; he needed more time. While Marvel Studios carefully built up to its team-up movies, Snyder had only one film to create his world. Studios generally prefer films around two hours long to maximize showings and profits. Cutting down on creative details, the final product showed Snyder was rushed. Ultimately, Warner Bros. should have given him the time needed to properly build a potentially billion-dollar cinematic universe.

As a huge movie fan, it’s become even clearer to me that the DC Extended Universe really needed more breathing room. This ‘Ultimate Cut’ feels like a completely different film, and in a good way! We finally get more time with Clark Kent, which is fantastic, and it actually explains why Superman goes after Batman. In the original cut, Batman’s motivations – his anger over Metropolis being destroyed and feeling outmatched by Superman – were solid, but Superman’s actions felt a little…random. This version makes it much clearer that Lex Luthor was pulling the strings, though even here it’s not perfectly obvious. Honestly, the theatrical cut barely hinted at that manipulation at all.

Despite its problems, the film has always had a dedicated following, with many fondly remembering the excitement of seeing Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman together on screen for the first time. The extended “Ultimate Cut” helped improve things, and it’s interesting to imagine a different path for the DC universe. In one version of events, standalone films for Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Cyborg, and Aquaman could have come before Batman v. Superman. And with an infinite multiverse, there’s even a reality where Zack Snyder’s four-hour cut feels too brief! In that world, the DC universe simply needed more time to develop its characters, particularly Batman, but it came very close to getting that time.

Matt Reeves’ Resistance to Joining the DCU Emulates Christopher Nolan’s Role in BvS

Back in 2014, Christian Bale hinted he wouldn’t mind returning as Batman. This suggests he might have been open to reprising the role. However, during the early stages of Batman v. Superman, Christopher Nolan apparently preferred to keep his Batman separate from the new movie’s universe. It seems Zack Snyder and the filmmakers may have agreed, wanting to create their own distinct version of the character for the DCEU. Looking back, including Nolan’s Batman could have potentially resolved many issues.

Since Batman’s origin story had already been told in previous movies, Batman v. Superman didn’t need to spend so much time re-establishing his background. The film simply needed to clarify when it took place in relation to other movies. It could have easily been set before The Dark Knight Rises, which would have explained Bruce Wayne’s emotional state in that film, or after it. The filmmakers could have even used the concept of the multiverse to show a version of Batman similar to the one played by Christian Bale, but with a few differences. The fact that dialogue in a later film hinted at a shared history between Batman and another character further supports this idea.

Matt Reeves’ Batman films aren’t connected to the wider DC Universe established by James Gunn, and that’s likely intentional. Despite announcing The Brave and the Bold over three years ago, there haven’t been any updates on casting or production. Like Christopher Nolan before him, Reeves appears to prefer keeping his Batman stories separate and realistic. Including Robert Pattinson’s Batman in the main DCU, similar to what could have benefited Zack Snyder’s films, might help Gunn avoid previous continuity issues, even if Pattinson’s version is from another universe. Dedicated DC fans would easily accept this, and most general moviegoers wouldn’t notice or care about any differences between Reeves’ films and the core DCU storyline.

Delaying the Dark Knight’s Appearance in the DCU Helps Avoid BvS’ Biggest Problem

The existence of the multiverse within the DC Universe, as shown in Season 2 of Peacemaker, makes it possible for Robert Pattinson’s Batman to also be a part of this universe. Similar to how James Gunn handled the Suicide Squad films, he can allow Matt Reeves’ Batman movies to define the character, and then subtly adjust details through conversations and plot points in the main DCU projects.

The Batman portrayed by Ben Affleck in Batman v. Superman felt disconnected because his actions lacked proper explanation. This frustrated fans who didn’t agree with director Zack Snyder’s approach, and they felt he mischaracterized the hero. Now, with James Gunn’s tendency to start stories mid-way through a character’s journey, his Batman could face similar criticism.

The biggest challenge is always shaping the narrative and ensuring it feels right – a struggle that creators like Goyer, Terrio, and Snyder experienced with Batman v. Superman. Fortunately, James Gunn has more time to build his characters and their world, despite the recent merger between Warner Bros. and Paramount.

Bringing Christopher Nolan’s Batman—or a version of it from another universe—into the DC Extended Universe could have helped Batman v. Superman be better received, even with its surprising character choices. Now, whether James Gunn picks Robert Pattinson or another actor, it’s smart to wait before fully introducing Batman into the new DC Universe. The previous Warner Bros. leadership pushed the character forward too quickly, disrupting the original vision Zack Snyder had for the DCEU.

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10 Years Later: Could DC Have Saved Batman v Superman?
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2026-03-31 07:15