No, a portal to the multiverse is not opening and moving Robert Pattinson to the DCU.
Despite rumors that The Batman star might lead in the upcoming DC Studios movie The Brave and the Bold, studio co-head James Gunn poured cold water on that notion during a press event Friday.
When asked by The Hollywood Reporter about the topic, Gunn bristled at the word “sharing” the actor with Reeves. He said there were no serious conversations about the actor continuing his role into the broader DCU.
This comes weeks after a head-turning interview at January’s Golden Globes by The Batman filmmaker Reeves, who was pressed on speculation that Pattinson might be incorporated into the DC Universe. Rather than flat out denying, he deflected, stating “I don’t know. We’ll have to see where that goes.”
The Batman introduced the world to Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne three years ago in March 2022. It made a strong $722 million, enough that normally a sequel would be fast-tracked. But Reeves is a methodical filmmaker who likes to take his time.
“He is yet to turn in a full script, but what we have read so far is incredibly encouraging,” DC Studios co-chief Peter Safran said Friday. The Batman Part II has been pushed several times and currently has a fall 2027 release. If that sticks, it will mean a five-and-a-half year gap between installments. The film and The Penguin TV spinoff exist in a universe separate from the main DCU.
DC Studios is also concurrently developing The Brave and the Bold, centered on Batman and his son, Damian Wayne. Though Andy Muschietti was announced as director and producer, he no longer seems to be hands-on involved.
“We’re developing the Brave and Bold script right now, and he’ll be the first one to see it,” Safran said, referring to Muschietti while also strongly implying the filmmaker is not involved in the project’s development.
Gunn went so far as to say he was now the driving force of the title. “Everybody knows I love Batman, and it’s important to me, so I’m working very closely with the writer on Brave and the Bold,” he said. The writer’s name was not revealed.
As for television, the awards juggernaut The Penguin starring Colin Farrell may not get a second season. Safran plainly said, “We don’t’ know. There are a lot of moving pieces, probably most importantly Colin himself. And 800 pounds of makeup.”
