DCU News: Mystery looms for Batman in The Brave and the Bold

At a recent press event, DC Studios’ leadership front, James Gunn and Peter Safran, stated firmly that Robert Pattison will not be the DCU’s Batman, but will continue to exist separately in Matt Reeves’ universe. 

That confirms a spot is open on the DCU roster in The Brave and the Bold.

Film News Blitz’s Aidan Leo analyses the comments made by Gunn and ponders the potential future of Batman in the DC Universe.

Gunn and Safran shut down the rumours

Pattison has continually been rumoured to exist in further projects in the DC Universe, but Gunn and Safran firmly put a pin in that notion at the presser stating: “It’s certainly not the plan. Like, it’s certainly not the plan.

“We love him - but we’ve got to introduce a Batman into the DCU. It’s imperative, and so that’s the plan with Brave and the Bold.”

Batman is DC’s success story

From Michael Keaton, to Christian Bale, to ‘Batfleck’ himself, Ben Affleck, it is essential that Gunn and Safran do not allow the selection of their Batman to loom in the dark realms of Gotham’s uncertainty, but rather allow for the public to buy into the iconic cornerstone superhero and billionaire playboy of live-action DC. 

The outcome of Batman’s introduction in Gunn’s DCU will determine whether the revamped cinematic universe will be a success or not.

We all need to be well aware of who is next in line for the caped crusader role, as two Batmans have not existed at one time before.

With Pattison’s success in a different verse, it will already be a challenge to rival that of Matt Reeves’ triumphs, especially after the critical acclaim of The Penguin.

Batman is a pop culture icon

Across any decade, the exploits and internal struggles of Bruce Wayne and his true self remain the most captivating attachment for comic fans.

The dark, broody and sombre protagonist remains the cultural representative from the superhero world to many in reality.

With Gunn and Safran saying that they want to avoid the prototypical origin stories, we can expect the caped crusader to make his first appearance in climactic moments or closing credits of the initial upcoming DCU releases. 

READ MORE: Marvel news: The entry of Sentry in the MCU’s Thunderbolts*

This will be new ground for us all, as the foundations of DC are built on the Justice League leader.

Without him in its beginning stages, Gunn and Safran will have to wow us in the release of their confirmed protagonist stories, Superman (2025) and Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow (2026).

Considering it has now been confirmed that classic Batman villains will also be getting their own stories, Batman may make a surprising appearance in a cliffhanger moment of sorts (similar to the final moments of The Penguin) in Clayface (2026) or Swamp Thing, a character and film in which Gunn has spoken about in glowing terms previously. 

What do we know about The Brave and the Bold?

There’s little known about The Brave and the Bold movie while Gunn and Safran focus on starting the DCU with Superman, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow and the Lanterns TV show.

Director Andy Muschietti, known for his work helming The Flash, has yet to reveal that a script has been finalised, but the story is set to take cues from Grant Morrison's work in DC Comics.

The Brave and the Bold will be mashed on Morrison’s storyline in the comics that introduces Bruce Wayne’s son with Talia al Ghul, Damian, who takes on the mantle of Robin.

Who is in line for the next Caped Crusader era?

Many high-profile and household Hollywood names have been in circulation to take on Gunn’s dark knight since his DCU takeover.

The names that have featured prominently among the DCU fanbase, whether that be comic commentators or just fans in general, are mainly Jensen Ackles (Supernatural, The Boys); Alan Ritchson (Reacher); Jon Hamm (Mad Men); Scott Eastwood (Wrath of Man); Glen Powell (Hit Man); Jake Gyllenhaal (Road House); and Michael Fassbender (The Agency), just to name a few. 

Hamm, Gyllenhaal, and Fassbender for the dark knight?

I consider myself rather level-headed when it comes to any of these options.

However, to tone it down to a select few, for now I am going to eliminate Jon Hamm, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Michael Fassbender from the list.

In my mind, I feel the acting stylistically of Gyllenhaal and Fassbender will not suit the pending arrival of Gunn's resurgent Batman.

I feel they tend to suit deeper and more emotionally invested storylines and nuanced characters.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Film opinion: Five of the best from Christopher Nolan - Oppenheimer, The Dark Knight and more

They would act incredibly well, I have no doubt, but for now, I do not see them being considered.

Amazing actors in their own right of course.

Concerning Hamm, I suppose I am considering his age as a limiting possibility, as I do not see Gunn and company going for actors in that age bracket.

The man is 53 years of age after all. A younger Mad Men Hamm would have killed it though!

The youthful prospects: Powell and Eastwood

Looking at the young guns (pun unintended), Glen Powell and Scott Eastwood, both are 36 and 38 years of age respectively.

For me personally, Powell, although he deserved praise for his rise and trajectory, is almost too much of a ‘good guy’ character to play Batman.

Batman is a deeply conflicted, morally ambiguous, and emotionally strained individual. 

Batman blurs the lines between good and bad when chasing after Gotham’s most devious criminals.

DCU NEWS: Warner Bros. finds Supergirl Milly Alcock’s cosmic parents

To this extent, although a good, capable and developing actor, I would not feel that ‘wow factor’ of a Powell casting. 

I would support it though and see value in his acting ability.

The other extreme would be Eastwood.

There’s no doubt in my mind that he suits the ‘badass villain’ trope the best out of the list.

Look no further than his diabolical and ruthless role as Jan in Wrath of Man, possibly his best role to date, which suited him perfectly and was performed effortlessly.

Scott Eastwood for the DCU’s Two-face

If anything, forget Batman, Eastwood suits Two-face the best. 

A deeply affected DA by the views of the public on him being a spokesperson for them, doing whatever necessary to conquer the criminal underworld of Gotham, mixed with the turmoil of loss and tragedy resulting in the grey area of good and evil, becoming the eventual villain.

The character plotline is right there. It suits Eastwood’s acting disposition best.

He may even rival Aaron Eckhart’s depiction in Nolan’s Dark Knight verse.

You heard it here first. Gunn, book him now.

DC fan favourites, Jensen Ackles and Alan Ritchson

Undoubtedly, the best choices are Ackles and Ritchson from the list.

Although many, including myself, previously recall Ritchson as the constantly panicked, hilarious but ‘over-cooked’ goofball that is Thad Castle from Blue Mountain State.

His performance as Jack Reacher in Amazon Studios’ hit TV show Reacher, is nothing to turn our noses up at. 

He certainly proved he has the demeanor, action capabilities, physique and improved acting qualities for that role.

BATMAN NEWS: The Batman sequel is stuck in the bat cave a while longer

Will he suit the caped crusader though?

I am not against it, but it would take a few more levels from Ritchson for me to fully accept and appreciate him in the role. 

Similar to Powell, I do not get that much-needed dark-disposition, good guy-bad guy feel from Ritchson to play Batman.

The reality is that the dark, ominous nucleus of Batman and Gotham is what the fans love and is what has brought hordes of glaring success to the character’s films over the decades.

I do love and have grown to appreciate Batfleck though, the sheer size and imposition of his depiction in the Snyderverse worked well in my view, so that may work for Ritchson.

For now though, I remain unconvinced. 

Jensen Ackles is my odds-on favourite and choice for the caped crusader

DC fans have been clamouring for the announcement of Ackles as Batman, and I think I am joining that cavalry of support for the acclaimed superhero casting.

Whether it be his work as Supernatural’s Dean Winchester, the highly sought-after and rated The Boys, where his performance as Soldier Boy lit up the on-screen climactic moments thus far to the love and adoration of the show’s fans. 

And of course, even more notably, his performances as, you guessed it, Batman himself in plenty of animated features including Justice League: Warworld; the Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earth films; and the Batman: The Long Halloween film series and plenty more.

He performed extremely well in voicing the esteemed character.

Although we have not been able to see his physicality in the role, due to the films being animations, it's not as if his delivery on that very front as Soldier Boy is not worth pointing to as a reference. 

So yes, bring us Ackles and he can even bring along Jared Padalecki if he wants to.

If that will secure his position in the role, so be it.

Gunn, make it happen.

Before the man is well into his fifties, with fans still singing his praises and expecting him to get off the couch, like what is expected of Andrew Garfield’s Spiderman, years after playing the role. 

Here’s to Ackles, the new DCU Batman.

Well, let's hope.  

READ NEXT: Film news: Krypto saves the day in James Gunn’s Superman trailer