DC Studios' James Gunn Finally Reveals Why THE BATMAN's Dark Knight Isn't Part Of New DCU

DC Studios' James Gunn Finally Reveals Why THE BATMAN's Dark Knight Isn't Part Of New DCU

Following the success of The Batman last year, you'd think that Robert Pattinson serving as the DCU's Dark Knight would be a no-brainer. Now, James Gunn has explained why exactly that won't be happening...

By JoshWilding - Dec 16, 2023 10:12 AM EST
Filed Under: The Batman

Last March, The Batman opened to positive reviews (85% on Rotten Tomatoes) and proved to be a box office success with $771 million worldwide by the end of its run.

At the time, it was clear the movie was separate from the DCEU - similar to Joker - and that Robert Pattinson's Caped Crusader wouldn't be making his presence felt in The Flash, for example. However, with a line-wide reboot now looming, why isn't that Batman being brought into the new DCU? 

It would make sense. Batman is typically a hero who operates alone and Pattinson could then just make sporadic appearances in other DC Studios projects, very much playing the outsider version of the character from before he became a regular fixture in the Justice League's daylight adventures. 

Instead, of that happening, we're getting The Batman II from Matt Reeves in 2025 and The Flash helmer Andy Muschietti has been tasked with taking charge of The Brave and the Bold, a DCU Batman movie revolving around Bruce Wayne and his son Damian Wayne/Robin. 

Responding to a fan on Threads who wondered why Reeves' Batman hasn't been added to the DCU, DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn said, "It's not an 'allowed' thing, it’s Matt's choice, and we respect that."

So, in other words, Reeves didn't want to bring The Batman into the DCU. As a result, his franchise - and spin-offs like The Penguin - will remain "Elseworlds" stories which play out in their own separate reality. 

This isn't a shock, of course, as producer Dylan Clark previously said, "Warner Bros. has a multiverse where they're exploring different ways to use the character. We don't get involved in that. Matt is interested in pushing this character to his emotional depths and shaking him to his core."

That was under the previous regime but it's apparent now that nothing has changed. Check out our interview with The Batman stars Jeffrey Wright and Paul Dano in the player below. 

Two years of stalking the streets as the Batman, striking fear into the hearts of criminals, has led Bruce Wayne deep into the shadows of Gotham City. With only a few trusted allies — Alfred Pennyworth, Lt. James Gordon — amongst the city’s corrupt network of officials and high-profile figures, the lone vigilante has established himself as the sole embodiment of vengeance amongst his fellow citizens.

When a killer targets Gotham’s elite with a series of sadistic machinations, a trail of cryptic clues sends the World’s Greatest Detective on an investigation into the underworld, where he encounters such characters as Selina Kyle/aka Catwoman, Oswald Cobblepot/aka the Penguin, Carmine Falcone, and Edward Nashton/aka the Riddler. As the evidence begins to lead closer to home and the scale of the perpetrator’s plans becomes clear, Batman must forge new relationships, unmask the culprit, and bring justice to the abuse of power and corruption that has long plagued Gotham City.

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Steel86
Steel86 - 12/16/2023, 10:13 AM
Understandable, when Matt signed on being apart of a bigger universe wasn't part of his deal. Also on a personal level even though I really enjoyed The Batman I'm not a big fan of Robert Pattinson as Batman so hopefully The Brave and the Bold can be my Bats.
Kadara
Kadara - 12/16/2023, 12:08 PM
@Steel86 - Who do you imagine will make a great next Batman? I don't mind Pattison by the way, I think his brooding performance matched the whole theme for that movie.
UncleHarm1
UncleHarm1 - 12/16/2023, 2:01 PM
@Kadara - Jon Hamm as a gritty re-imagining of the campy, 1960's Adam West era. Make it a period piece, give him the batmobile with the big bat face on the front, goofy gadgets like the Bat-Shark-Repellant, but play it straight like none of the characters realize how goofy their world is. Then have a grisly murder mystery alongside all this.
Kadara
Kadara - 12/16/2023, 2:21 PM
@UncleHarm1 - Lol that's one hell of an imagination 😂
Steel86
Steel86 - 12/16/2023, 2:24 PM
@Kadara - Jensen Ackles and Alan RitchSon have been popular fan casts and I wouldn't mind either but my personal pick is Jake Gyllenhaal.
Sidenote- On Pattison I liked the idea of what he was doing but for me it felt like he was acting which of course you want to feel like the actor is that character but thats just me
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 12/16/2023, 3:00 PM
@Kadara - Bill Skarsgard.

Kadara
Kadara - 12/16/2023, 3:42 PM
@ObserverIO - Since I don't have a personal favorite myself, I can see it.
SpiderParker
SpiderParker - 12/16/2023, 10:14 AM
Gotta appreciate Reeves for having the balls to say no, else he would have turned into another director begging or blackmailing for a Directors Cut.
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 12/16/2023, 11:39 AM
@SpiderParker - He still might.
MaxPaint
MaxPaint - 12/16/2023, 12:02 PM
@SpiderParker - Who blackmailed for a Director's cut?
Highflyer
Highflyer - 12/16/2023, 12:02 PM
@SpiderParker - Blackmailing?
Origame
Origame - 12/16/2023, 12:50 PM
@SpiderParker - you gotta look up what blackmail means.
SpiderParker
SpiderParker - 12/16/2023, 1:25 PM
@MaxPaint @Highflyer @Origame - Snyder.

Blackmail - the action, treated as a criminal offence, of demanding payment or another benefit from someone in return for not revealing compromising or damaging information about them.
Read: intimidation

He got paid, he got what he wanted, he intimidated, he revealed damaging information through direct and indirect methods using his fans, actors and co-workers while he feigned ignorance. He duped everyone and admitted his cut had no reason existing just a few days ago.
SpiderParker
SpiderParker - 12/16/2023, 1:30 PM
@Highflyer - That's would be a good question for Ray Fisher.
Highflyer
Highflyer - 12/16/2023, 1:31 PM
@SpiderParker - I don't know how you managed to make the above article about Snyder, but what information did he threaten to reveal?
Highflyer
Highflyer - 12/16/2023, 1:32 PM
@SpiderParker - Are you saying he was controlling Ray?
SpiderParker
SpiderParker - 12/16/2023, 1:34 PM
@Highflyer - You could get the answer to that yourself after you check out Ray Fisher's next film Rebel Moon.
Highflyer
Highflyer - 12/16/2023, 1:37 PM
@SpiderParker - What does him being in Rebel Moon have to do with anything. Genuine question. Collaboratung with a director more than once doesn't mean we lose the ability to think for oureselves. Also, if I remember correctly, Ray became vocal after the ZSJL announcement was made. Blackmail is useless if it's done after the blackmailer has already gotten what he wanted.
Origame
Origame - 12/16/2023, 1:46 PM
@SpiderParker - ...enjoy that tin foil hat buddy.
SpiderParker
SpiderParker - 12/16/2023, 2:03 PM
@Highflyer -

https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-features/justice-league-the-snyder-cut-bots-fans-1384231/

"Rolling Stone spoke with more than 20 people involved with both the original Justice League and Snyder’s cut, most of whom believe that the director was working to manipulate the ongoing campaign."

"But one source maintains, “Zack was like a Lex Luthor wreaking havoc.” "
SpiderParker
SpiderParker - 12/16/2023, 2:05 PM
@Origame - Hello neighbor, nice glass house you got there.
MaxPaint
MaxPaint - 12/16/2023, 2:34 PM
@SpiderParker - Rolling Stones? That's your basis?? Jesus good luck with that.

"Sure Zack Snyder blackmailed a whole studio where he no longer worked for to release a cut that they had under they rights. Trust me, I read it on rolling stone!"

This is so stupid, but I guess when you're blinded by hate and bias, it's easy to someone to fool themselves. And if anyone knows about bias that would be rolling stone.
Origame
Origame - 12/16/2023, 4:22 PM
@SpiderParker - please point to the conspiracy theory I stated 🤣

At least one that's on par with claiming Snyder blackmailed wb 🤣
McMurdo
McMurdo - 12/16/2023, 7:39 PM
@SpiderParker - Are you into Q anon too?
Highflyer
Highflyer - 12/17/2023, 12:04 AM
@SpiderParker - So basically he said, she said.
SpiderParker
SpiderParker - 12/17/2023, 1:43 AM
@MaxPaint -
If you actually kept up with everything that led to the release of the cut, you wouldn't need someone to tell you what he did or how he got it released, you would have gotten to that point by yourself but the ones who are biased here isn't the people against Snyder.

The incomplete cut needed milions of dollars to put out there which it clearly didn't recover, the studio had to cut costs everywhere, cancel almost complete movies, write them off and almost get bankrupt. WB was scared of all the bad press it got because of Snyder, Fisher and all the people THEY put the blame on. I'm surprised they are not canceled by Hollywood yet.

@Origame
Oh, sure, here's one: Whoever hired Zack Snyder must be a die hard Marvel fan that wants nothing but mediocrity for DC.
Here's another: Whoever defends Snyder is doing so to pretend to hate Marvel but is actually hiding behind a persona to recruit people for their own undoing. Read: Troll.
Last one: People actually understood Snyder was a virus that they empowered but they wanted to see how far they can go just by hyping up a lost cause to feel powerful enough to have ANY effect in the world.

@McMurdo
I'm not but we are already talking about one cult, why do you have to bring up another into the conversation? Wait, was that a wink?

@Highflyer
Sure if you wanna have it that way but that also means you admit Ray Fisher and Snyder were also part of the "He said, She said".


You all need to accept DCEU is dead because SnyderCut was released. That's a fact. It's just sad it took them enough time to almost get bankrupt to realise the problem was Snyder all along. Whats worse is it will take you people longer. Atleast it taught a lesson to other filmmakers to never compromise their creativity, integrity and cry like a baby to redo it. TBF, Snyder is just bad every single time, Ayer compromised. If anything, Ayer deserves more of a chance than Snyder who already got plenty of chances even before ZSJL.
Highflyer
Highflyer - 12/17/2023, 7:11 AM
@SpiderParker - Wait, you think if the ZSJL never came out, they'd still be pushing through with the DCEU? What are you basing this "fact" on? I think we can all tell you don't like Snyder, but come on. Snyder didn't change a bunch of things himeself. He left and things were changed without him. With the exception of the Martian Manhunter scene and the nightmare scene, everything was already shot in the original photohraphy. Snyder released two theatrical films, by that logic, they should have been striking critical and box office gold ever since he left.
SpiderParker
SpiderParker - 12/17/2023, 7:37 AM
@Highflyer - Yes, I do think DCEU would probably go on for a few more movies considering they were planning Crisis. All the bad faith Snyder brought on for years already dig the hole for the DCEU coffin but ZSJL put the stone on the grave. By which logic? I didn't understand that part but DCEU already was ruined everytime Snyder added a minute of mythology to it. Also, JL is his movie so thats 3 theatrical movie.

You can't have a incompetent, poorly structured and weak built up foundation and expect it to stand through tough times let alone shine. He not only [frick]ed it up 3times before ZSJL but also ruined the chances of DCEU hitting a soft reset with Crisis. DCEU, like JL, was already in ruins before someone else came to try and fix it up. Thanks to Snyder.
Highflyer
Highflyer - 12/17/2023, 7:55 AM
@SpiderParker - Dislike for the guy aside, do you really consider 2017 JL his work considering how much was changed after his departure? Especially if Nolan felt like Zack should never watch it? Again, winning cures everything. There's no excuse why they couldn't make hit after hit after Snyder left.
Origame
Origame - 12/17/2023, 8:49 AM
@SpiderParker - ...I never claimed any of these.

And are you seriously saying the $70 mil they put into the Snyder cut was enough to completely destroy wb financially and led to Batgirl getting canceled? 🤣
Origame
Origame - 12/17/2023, 8:51 AM
@Highflyer - they need to find any excuse to keep hating on Snyder. Let's face it.
SpiderParker
SpiderParker - 12/17/2023, 10:11 AM
@Highflyer - Whose work is it then? Whedon's? You seriously think it is Whedon's work when much of what was on film was shot by Snyder? When much of the storyline was by Snyder? When pretty much 90% of the work was done by Snyder? Whedon got $25million for additional filming and post production, in contrast Snyder spent around $275million on the film and got another $70million for ZSJL and still produced two trash movies. His name is on both of the movies, Whedon didn't even get directorial credit for the movie cause HE DIDN'T DIRECT IT. Also, there'ss no excuse why Snyder couldn't produce hit after hit everytime he put a new film out.

@Origame - That's not only $70million now, is it? The toxicity behind the 70million extortion for ZSJL created a bad environment where all future DC property were stigmatized in public. All 5movies that came after ZSJL were flops, lost the studio millions of dollars, tarnished the brand and even if they were half of those movies were half decent, they still failed. That's all because WB listened to the whims of fans who wanted a subpar version of a subpar movie of a subpar universe. DC's biggest enemy of the brand is its own fans. They get bad data from the fanatics who don't know any better and turned the GA against DC cause of this stupid ReleaseTheSnyderCut movement. That's more than a billion dollar loss thanks to Snyder.
Highflyer
Highflyer - 12/17/2023, 10:33 AM
@SpiderParker - Whether they were trash or not is subjective. ZSJL was well recieved at the end of the day, so how on earth did it cause the 5 films after to flop? (even though reviews shouldn't matter to an individual viewer) You can have the same storyline or premise and still be executed very differently.

Whedon may not have gotten credit, but anyone with eyes can't say that was Zack's baby either.
Origame
Origame - 12/17/2023, 10:35 AM
@SpiderParker - ok, its a directors cut that wasn't even released theatrically. How tf are you gonna place that as the reason for all those films flopping? Especially with Ezra Miller, unknowns like black Adam being pushed to the forefront, terrible scripts like ww1984, constant changes in management that completely change the direction of the franchise between films, and gunn's dcu which renders all these films pointless?
Origame
Origame - 12/17/2023, 10:36 AM
@SpiderParker - also, audiences seemed to like the Snyder cut, so what are you talking about in general?

https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/zack_snyders_justice_league
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