James Gunn offers up updates about DC’s Batman, which he says is the biggest character at Warner Bros. and that it’s his “biggest issue in all of DC right now.”
Gunn calls Batman the most popular and most frequently used DC character, saying nearly every story imaginable has already been told, making him both interesting and, at times, boring. He admits the character poses the biggest creative challenge at DC right now.
Gunn says he’s working with a writer to develop a version of Batman that has a real reason to exist in the DCU — not just because he’s popular — and stresses the new Batman won’t be campy or comedic. He wants something distinct from both Matt Reeves’ darker version and any lighthearted takes.
What does James Gunn say about Batman?
Gunn Says DCU Batman Won’t Be Campy, Calls Him Warner Bros.’ Biggest Character
In an interview with Rolling Stone, Gunn actually reveals WB wanted him to direct a Batman movie before they asked him to do Superman in 2018. Gunn says if they had asked him in 2018 instead of earlier, he would have said yes, but at the time, he “couldn’t quite wrap my head around it.”
Gunn now says he is working on the DCU’s Batman with a writer (he has yet to name) to get the character right for the DCU. Interestingly, Gunn says the DCU Batman won’t be campy or goofy, which is similar to his Guardians of the Galaxy movies at Marvel, and it even seems Gunn’s Superman is on the campier side of things. That may explain why Gunn isn’t writing. Gunn says:
“Batman has to have a reason for existing, right? So Batman can’t just be “Oh, we’re making a Batman movie because Batman’s the biggest character in all of Warner Bros.,” which he is. But because there’s a need for him in the DCU and a need that he’s not exactly the same as Matt’s Batman. But yet he’s not a campy Batman. I’m not interested in that. I’m not interested in a funny, campy Batman, really. So we’re dealing with that. I think I have a way in, by the way. I think I really know what it’s — I just am dealing with the writer to make sure that we can make it a reality.”
Gunn also says that both the Batman and Wonder Woman scripts are “two priorities” and confirms the Batman movie is still Brave and the Bold.
Gunn Shuts Down ‘Batman Part II’ Cancellation Rumors, Says Pattinson in DCU Is Unlikely
Regarding the Matt Reeves and Robert Pattinson Batman, Gunn says there is still no script and again fires back at claims The Batman: Part II has been canceled:
” I’ll also say Batman Part II is not canceled. That’s the other thing I hear all the time — that Batman Part II is canceled. It’s not canceled. We don’t have a script. Matt’s slow. Let him take his time. Let him do what he’s doing. God, people are mean. Let him do his thing, man.”
Gunn has previously confirmed it has been discussed to bring the Robert Pattinson Batman into the DCU, when asked by Rolling Stone, Gunn doesn’t rule it out, but it seems highly unlikely:
“I would never say zero, because you just never know. But it’s not likely. It’s not likely at all.”
Gunn is also rumored to be developing a World’s Finest movie teaming David Corenswet’s Man of Steel with the new DCU Batman.
The Batman Part II gets released on October 1, 2027.
