James Gunn’s Batman Plans For The DCU May Be Changing!

James Gunn’s Batman Plans for the DCU may be evolving as DC Studios prepares to develop two live-action versions of the Dark Knight alongside upcoming animated projects.

The studio is expanding Batman’s presence through several projects, including Batman: Knightfall – Part 2: Knightquest and an adaptation of Absolute Batman. However, the biggest question concerns how James Gunn and Peter Safran will balance Robert Pattinson’s Batman with the DCU’s own Bruce Wayne. Gunn previously expressed concerns about audiences accepting multiple versions of the same superhero. More recently, however, he has suggested that general audiences understand separate continuities better than some fans expect.

James Gunn’s Batman Plans for the DCU May Have Evolved

Before taking charge of DC Studios, Gunn discussed the challenges of presenting different versions of the same character across separate projects. In 2022, he addressed the issue on X, pointing out that fans frequently questioned why Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker did not appear in Peacemaker.

“There are always going to be people who complain or are confused by when the same company is telling different stories with the same character but different actors. Comics readers are used to it. But every day I hear ‘why isn’t Joaquin’s Joker in Peacemaker?’ or similar.”

Gunn also expressed concern about audiences becoming too attached to one interpretation of a character.

“I’ve found an increasing inability to accept different versions though, as if canon in one version = reality, and any other version is a threat to that. It’s a bit disturbing.”

However, by late 2025, Gunn appeared more comfortable with the prospect of DC Studios developing two live-action Batmen simultaneously. In an interview with Brandon Davis, he argued that casual viewers can understand separate continuities.

“I think that people are really starting to learn about stuff like that. One of the weirdest things for me is that big fans are often like, ‘Well, listen, I understand this, but normies will never understand this. Casuals will never understand this.’ But the truth is, guys, that you’re the ones that don’t understand. The casuals always understand.”

These comments suggest that James Gunn’s Batman Plans for the DCU can accommodate separate versions of the character, provided each project maintains its own identity.

Why Robert Pattinson’s Batman Will Remain Separate?

Matt Reeves’ The Batman franchise operates outside the main DCU under DC’s Elseworlds banner. This arrangement gives Reeves creative independence to develop his version of Gotham without connecting every story to the wider DCU timeline.

Robert Pattinson will return in The Batman – Part II, which will introduce newcomers Scarlett Johansson and Sebastian Stan alongside returning cast members. The sequel’s development has taken time, but DC Studios has continued to support Reeves’ separate continuity.

Keeping Pattinson’s Batman independent also allows the filmmaker to explore a grounded crime story without requiring the character to interact with the DCU’s growing lineup of superheroes. Consequently, the two versions of Bruce Wayne can have different supporting characters, storytelling styles, and long-term plans.

The DCU’s Batman Is Already Being Set Up

While Reeves continues developing Pattinson’s Gotham, Gunn and Safran can introduce their own Batman into the main DCU. The character has already been referenced in projects such as the animated series Creature Commandos and HBO’s Lanterns.

Lanterns has also explored Gotham’s criminal underworld, adding context to the wider universe in which the DCU’s Batman will eventually operate. The planned live-action introduction is The Brave and the Bold. However, the film’s development timeline and casting details remain unresolved.

Unlike Pattinson’s version, the DCU’s Bruce Wayne will exist alongside heroes such as Superman and the Green Lanterns. This distinction could help establish each Batman as part of a different kind of superhero story.

DC Studios Is Expanding Batman Beyond Live-Action

Batman will also feature in upcoming animated projects, further expanding the character’s presence across DC’s slate. Batman: Knightfall – Part 2: Knightquest will continue the story involving Batman and Bane.

DC is also developing an adaptation of Absolute Batman, based on the alternate-universe comic series that reimagines Bruce Wayne and his world. These projects demonstrate how DC can explore different interpretations of the same character across animation, comics, and live-action productions. Rather than forcing every story into one continuity, the studio can give each version its own creative direction.

Can James Gunn Balance Two Live-Action Batmen?

The central question surrounding James Gunn’s Batman Plans for the DCU is whether both live-action versions can succeed without confusing audiences. Pattinson’s Batman will continue in Reeves’ standalone crime saga, while the DCU’s version is expected to become part of a larger superhero universe.

Gunn’s more recent comments suggest that he believes audiences can distinguish between these separate stories. The approach also gives DC Studios more flexibility. Reeves can continue developing his own vision of Gotham, while Gunn and Safran build a Batman who fits the DCU’s broader mythology.

For now, the studio has not revealed who will play the DCU’s Bruce Wayne or when The Brave and the Bold will begin production. Nevertheless, the continued development of both franchises suggests that DC Studios is prepared to maintain separate Batman continuities.

Whether the strategy changes as the DCU expands remains to be seen, but audiences could soon have multiple ways to experience the Dark Knight on screen.