The DCU has a major issue with how it approaches Batman, and James Gunn‘s empty promises are hurting the cause.
The current plan for the DCU is to have two different versions of Batman. The first can be found in Matt Reeves‘ The Batman, with Robert Pattinson playing Bruce Wayne. That Batman is under the DC Elseworlds banner, which is separate from the DCU-connected timeline.
The other Batman will belong to the DCU and will headline The Brave and the Bold, a father-son story about Batman and his son, Damian Wayne/Robin. In 2023, Gunn and Peter Safran announced The Brave and the Bold would be part of the first slate of movies for the DCU. The Flash’s Andy Muschietti is attached to direct from a screenplay by Christina Hodson.
Since that initial announcement, there has been a concerning lack of updates, so much so that rumors are starting to spread. Writer Dan Marcus wrote, “I have no idea if this is true or false (I’m assuming it’s definitely false), but I did hear from Muschietti that all work on The Brave and the Bold is on hold until after the merger is settled.” Marcus later clarified on X that he ran into Muschietti and inquired about his Batman movie.
With the rumor spreading, Gunn took to Threads to end the speculation about the movie being put on hold. “It doesn’t sound like something Andy would have said, but the project is in no way on hold,” Gunn wrote.
Gunn’s statements about The Brave and the Bold no longer hold the same weight as they once did. The time for words is over. To quote a phrase, “actions speak louder than words.”
James Gunn’s lack of action on The Brave and the Bold is concerning
When Gunn first introduced the DCU’s opening slate, it got fans excited about the studio’s future. Gunn announced five films: Superman, Supergirl, The Authority, The Brave and the Bold, and Swamp Thing. Only two of those movies—Superman and Supergirl—have been released. The Authority has been scrapped, while The Brave and the Bold and Swamp Thing are moving at a snail’s pace.
Currently, the DCU consists of empty promises for the majority of its projects. After Supergirl’s failure, fans don’t care about Gunn’s social media statements. They want to see action on The Brave and the Bold and how the DCU plans to incorporate its version of Batman.
At this point, Gunn doesn’t even need to cast the DCU’s Batman. Anything tangible at this point works. He could give the movie a release date window. Gunn could back Muschietti and say something like “He’s our guy.” Gunn could share more artwork for The Brave and the Bold. If he won’t cast Batman, fans wouldn’t mind seeing who will play Robin.
The DCU is at a crossroads right now. Gunn taking action on The Brave and the Bold would be a smart move.
