James Gunn Responds To BATMAN Casting Rumors; Confirms That A New Actor Will Play The DCU's Dark Knight

James Gunn Responds To BATMAN Casting Rumors; Confirms That A New Actor Will Play The DCU's Dark Knight James Gunn Responds To BATMAN Casting Rumors; Confirms That A New Actor Will Play The DCU's Dark Knight

There have been some intriguing, not to mention a little bizarre, Batman-related rumors doing the rounds of late, and DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn has now taken to Twitter to clear a few things up...

By MarkCassidy - Feb 12, 2023 10:02 AM EST
Filed Under: Batman

When DC Studios co-heads James Gunn and Peter Safran announced the first chapter of the new DCU slate, the former revealed that a new actor would be cast to play Batman going forward. However, several intriguing - and somewhat bizarre - Bat-related rumors have done the rounds since.

Most recently, we heard that The Flash would feature an appearance from a former Batman actor who may end up staying on as the DCU's Dark Knight. This tied in to previous reports of Batman and Robin star George Clooney being spotted on set (yet to be verified), but Christian Bale emerged as the more likely possibility.

Whether either or both of those actors show up in The Flash remains to be seen, but Gunn has now made it clear that Clooney will "absolutely not" be the DCU's Caped Crusader, while confirming that a new actor will be taking on the role.

Gunn didn't debunk the rumor that at least one previous Batman actor will factor into The Flash, but the recently released poster definitely suggested that Michael Keaton's take on the iconic DC Comics vigilante will still have a significant part to play, despite reports to the contrary.

In related news, some quotes from the DCU slate reveal that must have flown under the radar have resurfaced over at /Film. Gunn told the site that his favorite project has yet to be announced, and even the smallest hint would give too much away.

"There's one thing I know is my favorite, one of my favorite projects of all of this," he explained. "And it's just so totally unique that the idea itself is giving away too much when it may not come out for two or three years. Also, with some other things, it's kind of a choice. We have a director working on a really fantastic other project that may take him a little more time than some other people."

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regularmovieguy
regularmovieguy - 2/12/2023, 10:37 AM
Shivermetimbers
Shivermetimbers - 2/12/2023, 10:40 AM
@regularmovieguy - mmmmmmmmm. Bat nips.
Scripturepoetic
Scripturepoetic - 2/12/2023, 6:46 PM
@Counterpoint -

It would be vindication if Clooney were to reprise the role, and approached the Bruce/Batman characterization in a more sophisticated/layered performance


If he had something to say with his portrayal, OR the right director 📽️ coaxed something memorable and iconic


It would be redemption, and it would forever be referenced as a noteworthy correction
Th3Batman
Th3Batman - 2/12/2023, 10:39 AM
I think the rumors of Cloony making a cameo in Flash are true, however, it would be very hard to have him be the main Batman, not because he's a bad actor, but because of the movie he previously starred in. It would simply be too dificult to market the new Batman movie as a sequel to Batman & Robin, the worst comic book movie ever made. I am glad that it's not Bale making a return, as it would likely tarnish the legacy of The Dark Knight Trilogy.
kazuma
kazuma - 2/12/2023, 11:08 AM
@Th3Batman - don't make it a sequel then. New Batman and that's it.
Tasmaniac
Tasmaniac - 2/12/2023, 11:23 AM
@Th3Batman - TDKR already tarnished the legacy of the Dark Knight trilogy.
Th3Batman
Th3Batman - 2/12/2023, 11:26 AM
@Tasmaniac -

87% critics rating
90% audience rating
Over a billion at the box office.

Truly a failure of a movie.
Tasmaniac
Tasmaniac - 2/12/2023, 11:32 AM
@Th3Batman - It was shit. Deal with it.
Tasmaniac
Tasmaniac - 2/12/2023, 11:34 AM
@Th3Batman - Avatar made over $2 billion, it was still Dances With Wolves in space.
MosquitoFarmer
MosquitoFarmer - 2/12/2023, 10:42 AM
With them getting a new actor, I imaging them cracking open a pod and a brand new actor walks out rehearsing lines already.
TheWalkingCuban
TheWalkingCuban - 2/12/2023, 10:43 AM
Kevin Feige rarely speaks. Didn’t rub off in their time together, I see.
MosquitoFarmer
MosquitoFarmer - 2/12/2023, 10:54 AM
@TheWalkingCuban - Given the rollercoaster that DC has been over the past however many years, I can see why they're trying to be fully transparent. But this is quite a bit though. The fact that he's using Twitter is definitely adding to that tantamount.
TheWalkingCuban
TheWalkingCuban - 2/12/2023, 12:06 PM
@MosquitoFarmer - yep yep
regularmovieguy
regularmovieguy - 2/12/2023, 12:58 PM
@MosquitoFarmer

Gunn has always been active on Twitter and is famous for calling out bullshit.

I am 90% sure Feige has an assistant handle his.
bobevanz
bobevanz - 2/12/2023, 10:45 AM
It always comes back to Grace, just say "potentially" so you're not wrong durrr. All these nobodies run with it and the lie spreads like wildfire
Th3Batman
Th3Batman - 2/12/2023, 10:49 AM
@bobevanz - Bill "Jett" Ramey from Batman on Film said the idea isn't completely off the table during his mail bag from today. I personally think we'll get a new actor, but there's definitely something going on behind the scenes with Cloony, as too many people are talking about it for there not to be.
TheShape9859
TheShape9859 - 2/12/2023, 11:12 AM
@Th3Batman - Jett is full of shit
Th3Batman
Th3Batman - 2/12/2023, 11:27 AM
@TheShape9859 - Someone's jealous I see.
BGarlz92
BGarlz92 - 2/12/2023, 10:47 AM
Choose Clooney you cowards! Lol.
Th3Batman
Th3Batman - 2/12/2023, 10:48 AM
It amazes me how much worse Batman and Robin turned out compared to Forever. Don't get me wrong, that movie also had its issues, however at its core, it was a decent Batman movie. You can tell how much of a positive impact Lee Batchler & Janet Batchler, as well as Tim Burton had on Forever, as without them (as we saw with Batman & Robin), Forever would've been far worse. I do believe that Forever nowadays receives an unfair reception as a result of being directed by the same person, but it couldn't be more different from its sequel. Had it been the final film of that series (as it should've been), it would've been a decent way to end that original trilogy.
bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 2/12/2023, 10:52 AM
George Clooney is still the best casting as Bruce Wayne imo, but it makes more sense to cast a new actor.
Th3Batman
Th3Batman - 2/12/2023, 10:58 AM
@bkmeijer1 - Batman and Robin had an overall good cast, it was the direction that killed it. Had it received a sequel with a competent direction, they could've redeemed themselves.
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