James Gunn and Peter Safran have confirmed that The Brave and the Bold will introduce a new Batman to the DC Universe (DCU), definitively ruling out Robert Pattinson. During a DC Studios presentation, Safran and Gunn clarified that Pattinson will remain exclusive to Matt Reeves' The Batman Epic Crime Saga. Gunn stated unequivocally, "It's certainly not the plan. No." Safran added, "We love him, but we have to introduce a Batman into the DCU. That's imperative. And so that's the plan with The Brave and the Bold."
Earlier speculation about Pattinson's potential DCU-wide role stemmed from Reeves' own comments, leaving the possibility open. However, Reeves himself emphasized his focus on The Batman Epic Crime Saga, stating, "What the future brings? I can’t really tell you." Safran expressed enthusiasm for Reeves' vision for The Batman Part 2, noting its encouraging early stages of development.
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Reeves' comments to Josh Horowitz at the Golden Globes further clarified his commitment to his own Batman saga. The Brave and the Bold, currently in active development, is progressing well, though the directorial involvement of Andy Muschietti remains pending, awaiting script completion. Further announcements regarding The Brave and the Bold are promised soon.
The delayed release of The Batman Part 2 to October 1, 2027, creates a five-year gap between Pattinson's debut and the sequel. Regarding the implications for The Brave and the Bold's release, Safran simply stated, "I think we've announced October 2027 there will be a Batman movie. That is all we can tell you right now."
While fans eagerly await Gunn's interpretation of Batman in The Brave and the Bold, a brief, silhouetted appearance in Creature Commandos Episode 6 confirmed the character's pre-existing presence and established recognition within the DCU, obviating the need for an origin story. Gunn's comments to Rotten Tomatoes TV explained the deliberate ambiguity of this cameo.
This cameo, however, strongly hints at a future team-up between the DCU's Batman and Superman, as Gunn enthusiastically stated, "This is the DCU Batman... I love him. We're going to do great things with him. He's the most popular superhero in the world and I can't wait for people to see more of him, along with Superman, and together."