James Gunn Talks About Alan Ritchson as Batman in the DCU

James Gunn and Peter Safran are actively building the new DC Universe. Major characters like Superman, Supergirl, Wonder Woman, Lobo, Hawkgirl, and multiple Green Lanterns — including Hal Jordan, John Stewart, and Guy Gardner — are already planned. One key piece is still missing: Batman. And the rising speculation around Alan Ritchson as Batman is only adding to the excitement.

The Brave and the Bold, the upcoming Batman project, is not one of the most developed titles yet. Still, speculation about Alan Ritchson as Batman continues to gain momentum online. So, what does Gunn actually think?

James Gunn Addresses Rumors of Alan Ritchson as Batman

In a recent podcast, James Gunn responded directly to questions about Alan Ritchson possibly playing the Caped Crusader. He said:

“I am a big Alan Ritchson fan, both as an actor and as a guy. I, let’s just wait and see what happens.”

Though the statement was vague, it shows Gunn’s openness to the idea — even if nothing is official yet. He went on to clarify the current stage of development:

“Listen, do I ever think about it, sure there’s people out there I think about, but let’s see where the script comes in. It’s not the furthest along thing. I mean we have things that are much, much further along.”

Batman and Wonder Woman Are Top DCU Priorities

Despite the slow development of The Brave and the Bold, Gunn emphasized how crucial Batman is to the future of the DCU. In an interview with Rolling Stone, he shared:

“Batman’s my biggest issue in all of DC right now, personally… I’m not writing Batman, but I am working with the writer of Batman and trying to get it right, because he’s incredibly important to DC, as is Wonder Woman… our two priorities are finishing our Wonder Woman and our Batman scripts.”

So while casting may not be locked in, it’s clear Batman — and possibly Alan Ritchson as Batman — will be getting a lot of attention in the coming months.

Alan Ritchson Reacts to the Casting Buzz

Meanwhile, Alan Ritchson has also responded to the growing speculation, recalling how Gunn had publicly shut down the rumors before:

“What’s amazing to me about this rumor of the Batman desire in the zeitgeist is the fact that James Gunn has personally announced publicly on his Twitter … ‘LOL. He’s not playing Batman’ … and this thing will not die. I get asked every day if I’m playing Batman.”

Despite that, Ritchson made it very clear that he’d love the opportunity:

“Would I play Batman? Yes. You wouldn’t even have to pay me to be Batman. Yeah, I’d don the suit.”

No Casting Yet, But Alan Ritchson as Batman News Could Be Close

Although DC Studios hasn’t cast anyone yet, the ongoing buzz around Alan Ritchson as Batman—and Gunn’s direct acknowledgment of it—shows the studio recognizes fan interest. Since the script is still in development and Batman remains a top priority, fans can likely expect official news soon.