James Gunn’s new Superman movie has formally landed in theatres. Whereas most eyes are on the Man of Metal, loads of the press within the run-up to the blockbuster has requested questions on one other hero within the DC Universe.
There’s a entire lot of chatter surrounding Bruce Wayne, AKA Batman, and the way he’ll match into this new period of the DCU, as there are a number of initiatives within the live-action pipeline centred across the Darkish Knight.
After an early screening of Superman, I’ve seen a number of clues to pay attention to, and I’ve compiled them with the important thing quotes we’ve got up to now to try to piece collectively what precisely is occurring with Batman, and whether or not there’s any probability we’ll see David Corenswet come face-to-face with Robert Pattinson’s model of the vigilante sooner or later.
Observe that there are spoilers under for Superman. Proceed at your personal threat
Superman has a small Batman Easter egg
I can affirm that whereas Batman doesn’t seem in James Gunn’s Superman film, there’s a key reference that signifies that he exists.
Throughout an evacuation scene of Metropolis, we are able to see a street signal for Gotham Metropolis, town the place Batman historically operates. That reference wasn’t key to the plot, so it’s undoubtedly a tease for followers of what’s to return for this DC Universe reboot.
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This comes as no shock, as co-CEOs of DC Studios, James Gunn and Peter Safran, have outlined some plans for an authentic film about Bruce Wayne (detailed under), which might most probably forged a brand new face within the position.
Nonetheless, there at the moment are questions on whether or not an present model of Batman could possibly be folded into this DC world to star alongside David Corenswet. Particularly, Robert Pattinson’s tackle the character from Matt Reeves’s The Batman, who will return for the sequel on 1 October 2027.
These rumours mainly stem from an sudden cameo in Superman, which confirms that Gunn and Safran are usually not wiping the slate clear utterly.
Superman cameo confirms one previous DCEU character exists on this new world
Within the Superman movie, we see Clark Kent coming beneath fireplace from the press when Lex Luthor leaks a video exposing the true motive that he was despatched to Earth. As we flick via the TV channels, we see a bunch interviewing none aside from… Peacemaker, performed by John Cena.
As followers of the character is probably not stunned to listen to, the anti-hero is trash-talking Clark Kent. The actual query is… how is he right here?
HBO
Peacemaker first appeared in The Suicide Squad, alongside the likes of Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn and Joel Kinnaman’s Rick Flag, who each appeared within the first Suicide Squad movie – a film very a lot set within the DCEU… the place Henry Cavill performed Superman.
The obvious motive is that this model of Peacemaker has now been retconned to be a part of this universe. In any case, there’s no motive that the identical actor can’t play totally different multiverse variations of characters – take J.Okay. Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson within the Tobey Maguire Spider-Man movies and the MCU.
Plus, Gunn has mainly confirmed again in November 2024 that nearly all the sequence Peacemaker is canon on this new DCU, apart from the one scene that features a cameo from the previous Justice League.
That might make sense, provided that Superman contains Rick Flag Sr as a side-character, the dad of Rick Flag… and the actors don’t actually have a large enough age hole to make this work, except for some motive Superman is ready earlier on this fictional timeline than anticipated.
The opposite is that that is some type of (on the brink of groan) multiverse situation. In any case, the Superman movie offers with the idea of pocket universes, in order that type of storytelling would make it very handy to fold in different characters that might in any other case not make a lot sense.
The most important motive this most likely isn’t the case is as a result of it’s an enormous a part of Marvel’s story proper now with factions such because the X-Males, and due to this fact it will appear extra possible that Gunn would need to create his personal narrative.
However Gunn hasn’t utterly wiped the slate clear by having Peacemaker concerned, similar to Marvel did with the Netflix sequence, reminiscent of Daredevil.
Marvel 2024 / Giovanni Rufino
So, if he’s carting over some characters from the DCEU, is there an opportunity that he would possibly do the identical from one other DC property?
James Gunn’s stance on Matt Reeves’s The Batman
When Gunn took over as co-head of DC Studios, he made it fairly clear that he’d be blissful to have two live-action Bruce Wayne tales co-existing alongside each other. One as a part of Chapter One: Gods and Monsters of the DCU, whereas the opposite would happen beneath the DC Elseworlds umbrella – tales that aren’t in the primary ‘canon’.
That ‘different’ in query is The Batman Half II, starring Robert Pattinson, which completed its script on the finish of June. This universe additionally features a spin-off, HBO’s The Penguin starring Colin Farrell, which acquired vital acclaim.
Macall Polay/HBO
Nonetheless, throughout an interview with Rolling Stone, Gunn was requested about whether or not he’d ever need to fold this character into his model of the DCU:
Interviewer: “You as soon as stated that the truth that Robert Pattinson’s Batman shouldn’t be on this universe was Matt Reeves’ selection. Does that imply if it had been as much as you, you’d’ve simply pulled that into your universe?”
Gunn: “It will be a consideration. We’d have to consider it. We’d have to consider it. It isn’t like we’ve by no means mentioned it.”
Interviewer: “I actually ought to clear this up. Is there nonetheless a non-zero probability that Matt Reeves’ Batman will get sucked into your universe?”
Gunn: “[Long pause.] I’d by no means say zero, since you simply by no means know. Nevertheless it’s not going. It’s not going in any respect.”
So, Battinson crossing into the primary DCU appears unlikely. And that’s not likely stunning – Reeve’s tackle this world is gritty, gothic and semi-realistic. In the meantime, the most recent Superman has a superdog – they’re fairly far aside tonally.
Plus, Gunn has his personal plans in place for Bruce Wayne.
Warner Bros. Discovery
A brand new Batman movie is in improvement referred to as The Courageous and the Daring
In the identical interview, Gunn mentioned how he’s commissioned a author to work on The Courageous and the Daring script, however there are challenges surrounding it:
“Batman has to have a motive for present, proper? So Batman can’t simply be “Oh, we’re making a Batman film as a result of Batman’s the largest character in all of Warner Bros.,” which he’s. However as a result of there’s a necessity for him within the DCU and a necessity that he’s not precisely the identical as Matt’s Batman. However but he’s not a campy Batman. I’m not enthusiastic about that. I’m not enthusiastic about a humorous, campy Batman, actually. So we’re coping with that. I feel I’ve a approach in, by the way in which. I feel I actually know what it’s — I simply am coping with the author to guarantee that we are able to make it a actuality.”
The story will deal with Bruce Wayne and his son Damian Wayne, who will acquire the title of Robin – Batman’s trusty sidekick.
We don’t but know when The Courageous and the Daring shall be launched, because the script isn’t but full, and no casting course of has begun but. It absolutely received’t be subsequent yr, which already has Supergirl and Clayface movies lined up on 26 June and 11 September, respectively.
2027 is a risk, however that might be a dangerous transfer to place two Batman movies in the identical yr, and it could be complicated for audiences, contemplating that Gunn doesn’t need to go down the ‘humorous, campy Batman’ route, so they might find yourself being comparable in tone. Hopefully, we’ll hear extra within the coming months.
James Gunn’s standing on Batman within the DCU, in abstract
Batman is prone to be rebooted on this new period of the DCU in The Courageous and the Daring. Whereas Matt Reeves’s second movie concerning the Caped Crusader remains to be going forward, will probably be thought of as a part of an alternate universe beneath the DC Elseworlds umbrella.
Whereas Gunn hasn’t utterly dominated out Battinson becoming a member of the DCU with David Corenswet’s Superman, the probabilities are slim. However after all, Superman did characteristic a cameo from a personality within the DCEU with Peacemaker, which proves that some liberties are being taken with this universe – it’s not ranging from scratch, which can be one thing for followers to take a position about.
Pocket universes had been additionally launched in Superman, which could possibly be an excellent excuse to hop between worlds, however it will be a shock for DC to additionally observe a multiversal arc, contemplating how a lot Marvel has included this into its movie slate.