James Gunn’s new Superman movie has formally landed in theatres. Whereas most eyes are on the Man of Metal, a whole lot 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 now have to this point to try to piece collectively what precisely is happening with Batman, and whether or not there’s any likelihood we’ll see David Corenswet come face-to-face with Robert Pattinson’s model of the vigilante sooner or later.
Word that there are spoilers under for Superman. Proceed at your individual threat
Superman has a small Batman Easter egg
I can verify 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 unique film about Bruce Wayne (detailed under), which might probably forged a brand new face within the position.
Nonetheless, there are actually questions on whether or not an current 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 principally stem from an sudden cameo in Superman, which confirms that Gunn and Safran should 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 underneath hearth from the press when Lex Luthor leaks a video exposing the true purpose that he was despatched to Earth. As we flick via the TV channels, we see a bunch interviewing none apart from… Peacemaker, performed by John Cena.
As followers of the character might not be shocked 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 purpose is that this model of Peacemaker has now been retconned to be a part of this universe. In any case, there’s no purpose that the identical actor can’t play completely different multiverse variations of characters – take J.Ok. Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson within the Tobey Maguire Spider-Man movies and the MCU.
Plus, Gunn has principally confirmed again in November 2024 that nearly the entire sequence Peacemaker is canon on this new DCU, aside from the one scene that features a cameo from the previous Justice League.
That will make sense, provided that Superman consists of 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 purpose Superman is ready earlier on this fictional timeline than anticipated.
The opposite is that that is some form of (on the brink of groan) multiverse state of affairs. In any case, the Superman movie offers with the idea of pocket universes, in order that form of storytelling would make it very handy to fold in different characters that might in any other case not make a lot sense.
The largest purpose this in all probability 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 subsequently it could appear extra seemingly that Gunn would wish 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, similar to 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 joyful 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 underneath the DC Elseworlds umbrella – tales that aren’t in the principle ‘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 obtained crucial acclaim.
Macall Polay/HBO
Nonetheless, throughout an interview with Rolling Stone, Gunn was requested about whether or not he’d ever wish to fold this character into his model of the DCU:
Interviewer: “You as soon as mentioned that the truth that Robert Pattinson’s Batman is just not on this universe was Matt Reeves’ selection. Does that imply if it have 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 likelihood 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 unlikely. It’s unlikely in any respect.”
So, Battinson crossing into the principle DCU appears unlikely. And that’s probably not shocking – Reeve’s tackle this world is gritty, gothic and semi-realistic. In the meantime, the newest 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 growth known 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 purpose for current, proper? So Batman can’t simply be “Oh, we’re making a Batman film as a result of Batman’s the most important 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 thinking about that. I’m not thinking about a humorous, campy Batman, actually. So we’re coping with that. I believe I’ve a method in, by the way in which. I believe 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 give attention to 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 will likely be launched, because the script isn’t but full, and no casting course of has begun but. It certainly gained’t be subsequent 12 months, which already has Supergirl and Clayface movies lined up on 26 June and 11 September, respectively.
2027 is a chance, however that might be a dangerous transfer to place two Batman movies in the identical 12 months, and it might be complicated for audiences, contemplating that Gunn doesn’t wish to go down the ‘humorous, campy Batman’ route, so they might find yourself being related in tone. Hopefully, we’ll hear extra within the coming months.
James Gunn’s standing on Batman within the DCU, in abstract
Batman is more likely 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, it will likely be thought of as a part of an alternate universe underneath the DC Elseworlds umbrella.
Whereas Gunn hasn’t utterly dominated out Battinson becoming a member of the DCU with David Corenswet’s Superman, the possibilities are slim. However in fact, Superman did function 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 have been additionally launched in Superman, which could possibly be an incredible excuse to hop between worlds, however it could be a shock for DC to additionally observe a multiversal arc, contemplating how a lot Marvel has included this into its movie slate.
