There have been so many questions heading into James Gunn and Peter Safran’s presentation concerning the longer term slate of upcoming DC Films and tv reveals, and a very good variety of them had been answered by the main points we obtained. A brand new Superman film, written by Gunn (and presumably directed by him, as nicely). A Surprise Lady prequel collection that’s set in Themyscira and modeled after Recreation of Thrones? Signal me up. However Batman was a personality that had loads of unfastened threads – between the existence of the Matt Reeves BatVerse, and the opportunity of Ben Affleck showing in The Flash and Aquaman and the Misplaced Kingdom. However Gunn clarified some main particulars concerning the Caped Crusader, and we’re going over all of them proper now.
One of many motion pictures introduced on the DC slate, on the films aspect, was The Courageous and the Daring, a Batman and Robin film that can be a part of the DCU correct. However we even have updates on Reeves’s deliberate sequel with Robert Pattinson, and the state of Affleck within the new DCU slate. Learn on to be taught what he came upon from James Gunn and Peter Safran.
Robert Pattinson’s Batman
So, there’ll primarily be a foremost slate of DCU motion pictures that every one can be working towards telling one bigger, extra built-in story over the course of the subsequent eight to 10 years. However Gunn did say that there can be Elseworld tales that may exist outdoors of the DCU, and that’s the place we’ll discover the persevering with tales of the Matt Reeves universe. The Batman was a giant success for DC, and even went on to earn just a few Academy Awards nominations. Rumblings of a sequel have been brewing, and now we all know when to anticipate it.
As a part of the announcement of the DCU slate, Gunn advised us that Matt Reeves’s The Batman – Half II will arrive in theaters on October 3, 2025. An October Batman film? Let the hypothesis for an adaptation of The Lengthy Halloween to start! There was no point out of a villain for the sequel, however we all know that Reeves needs to proceed constructing out the Gotham that he launched within the 2021 thriller, presumably giving extra display screen time to Barry Keoghan’s tousled Joker character whereas additionally permitting Robert Pattinson to higher lay declare to the a part of each Bruce Wayne and The Batman.
So, mark your calendars, Reeves followers. As a result of outdoors of Superman: Legacy getting a July 11, 2025 date, the October date for The Batman – Half II is the one concrete date set by Gunn and Safran.
The Courageous and the Daring
Longtime DC Comics readers will acknowledge the title The Courageous and the Daring as a reference to a collection that began working within the Nineteen Fifties, and lined tales for all method of hero. What began as an anthology comedian for characters such because the Viking Prince or Robin Hood finally got here to be a title that up to date DC followers affiliate with Batman and Robin, and that would be the focus of the brand new film that’s coming to the DCU.
The Batman launched on this film can be model new. Which means, it’s not centered on Robert Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne, and it’ll not solid Ben Affleck within the function that he began taking part in in Batman v Superman: Daybreak of Justice.
As Gunn advised CinemaBlend throughout his unique DC presentation, this can be a father-son story that hews near the Grant Morrison run of comics that launched readers to Damian Wayne, Bruce’s son from a consensual relationship with Talia Al Ghul. As Gunn revealed to CinemaBlend:
That is the introduction of the DCU’s Batman. It’s not Robert Patson. It’s not Ben Affleck. … That is the story of Damian Wayne, who’s Batman’s precise son, who he did not know existed for the primary eight to 10 years of his life. He was raised as a bit of assassin and murderer. He is a bit of son of a bitch. He is my favourite Robin. It is based mostly on the Grant Morrison comedian e book run, which is certainly one of my favourite Batman runs. And we’re placing that every one collectively proper now.
Damian Wayne will not be your conventional Boy Surprise. Given the truth that he’s additionally Talia Al Ghul’s son, he will get skilled by the League of Assassins to be a near-perfect killing machine, who arrives in Gotham with a big chip on his shoulder. Typically, he even scares Batman with the lengths that he’s prepared to go to cease criminals. The overconfident Damian sees himself as Bruce’s equal (maybe his superior), and the dynamic he has with Dick Grayson and Barbara Gordon can be fascinating.
Talking of the opposite function gamers in Batman’s cleaning soap opera, James Gunn’s associate, DC Movies co-CEO Pater Safran, did elaborate extra on The Courageous and the Daring, saying:
That is clearly a characteristic movie, and it should characteristic different members of the prolonged Bat household. Simply because we really feel like they have been omitted of Batman’s tales within the theaters for much too lengthy.
That’s very thrilling information for Batman followers who may nonetheless be upset that Batgirl was cancelled, or who wish to see Robin (and presumably Nightwing) in stay motion in a DC film. Nevertheless it’s dangerous information for our final man within the rundown.
Ben Affleck’s Batman
Each indication from James Gunn and Peter Safran about this slate is that it’s a clear begin. They commented that The Flash film, which Gunn raved about, is resetting every part, and that the entire tales that start with Superman: Legacy and proceed ahead can be in canon with the bigger story that they wish to inform.
Which implies R.I.P. Batfleck.
There can be time (years, I’m positive) to debate what may have been for Ben Affleck’s Batman. He had his personal script for a solo Batman film, which he wished to direct. He would have been an integral a part of the bigger story Zack Snyder wished to inform together with his universe. However as soon as he seems in The Flash, that doubtless would be the finish of Affleck’s Batman… although not the tip of Affleck.
When requested if Affleck was in line to direct The Courageous and the Daring, regardless of not starring in it, Safran advised CinemaBlend:
No, no, no. We’re simply speaking to Ben, normally, about stuff.
To which Gunn elaborated:
We and Ben haven’t mentioned, collectively… we’re speaking about two completely different tasks. … Henry (Cavill) and Ben should not part of this universe.
Personally, I feel it’s nice that Gunn and Safran have had conversations with Ben Affleck to direct one thing within the DC universe. The person clearly is a fan of the characters – and never simply Batman, however of the world normally – and tapping into his ardour, in addition to his expertise behind the digicam, makes all of the sense on this planet. Give him episodes of the Lantern collection on HBO Max, or let him helm The Authority (if Gunn doesn’t seize that one, himself).
Both means, the longer term seems very brilliant for Batman. Pattinson and Reeves will proceed their imaginative and prescient. The DCU may have its personal Caped Crusader, in time. And Batman’s tales will proceed to entertain for years to come back.