Has David Corenswet's SUPERMAN Already Met BATMAN? James Gunn Teases That May Have Occurred Already In The DCU

Has David Corenswet's SUPERMAN Already Met BATMAN? James Gunn Teases That May Have Occurred Already In The DCU

According to DC Studios co-chair James Gunn, Superman and Batman are more likely to be bros in the DCU rather than enemies or begrudging allies.

By MarkJulian - Jun 30, 2025 06:06 PM EST
Filed Under: The Brave and the Bold
Source: ExtraTV

The relationship between Batman and Superman varies in the comics. Sometimes it's somewhat adversarial, as seen in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and in other instances, the two are nearly as close as brothers.

According to DC Studios co-chair and Superman director James Gunn, the DCU is likely going to have the Man of Steel and Dark Knight have a relationship closer to the latter. Plus, with Superman already having three years of experience under his belt in the film, there's a chance that the World's Finest have already met.

The topic was specifically raised in an interview between Gunn and ExtraTV, where the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy director was asked about how Superman would react to meeting Gotham's protector. Gunn's answer definitely made the interviewer perk up, but there were no further details shared on the matter.

"Well first of all, we don't know if he's already seen a man dressed up as a bat," said Gunn when asked about their initial meeting. He added, "But I think that he'd probably see a kindred spirit in that [here's] another crazy person wearing a crazy costume [albeit] with a very different intent."

In the comics, the first time Batman and Superman appear together is in All-Star Comics #7 (1941); however, canonically they already knew one another as they were both reserve members of the Justice Society of America.

Comic historians generally consider their first meeting to have occurred in Superman #76 (1952), where Bruce Wayne and Clark Kent are coincidentally both passengers on a cruise ship. When a crisis emerges, they both end of changing into their costumes in close proximity, revealing to one another their secret identities.

Other retconned versions of their first meeting include Post-Crisis on Infinite Earths (1986): Man of Steel #3, where Superman is a new hero, who decides to go to Gotham and confront a much more veteran Batman, who has been depicted in the media as a crazed outlaw vigilante. With Batman having much more experience, the encounter doesn't go well for Superman.

The New 52 in 2011 also retold their first encounter, this time recentering the event around the formation of the Justice League as various DC heroes investigated the arrival of boom tubes and parademons on Earth. This comic series served as inspiration for Zack Snyder's Justice League.

Superman introduces viewers to a DC Universe where metahumans have been around for generations and Clark Kent already has  three years of experience as Earth’s strongest protector. So how should his first meeting with Batman unfold? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

SUPERMAN: 5 Biggest Spoilers From The First Junket Interviews (Including Who Owns The DCU's Hall Of Justice)
Related:

SUPERMAN: 5 Biggest Spoilers From The First Junket Interviews (Including Who Owns The DCU's Hall Of Justice)

SUPERMAN Has Trunks In The DCU But What About The BATMAN? Here's What James Gunn Has To Say
Recommended For You:

SUPERMAN Has Trunks In The DCU But What About The BATMAN? Here's What James Gunn Has To Say

DISCLAIMER: As a user generated site and platform, ComicBookMovie.com is protected under the DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act) and "Safe Harbor" provisions.

This post was submitted by a user who has agreed to our Terms of Service and Community Guidelines. ComicBookMovie.com will disable users who knowingly commit plagiarism, piracy, trademark or copyright infringement. Please CONTACT US for expeditious removal of copyrighted/trademarked content. CLICK HERE to learn more about our copyright and trademark policies.

Note that ComicBookMovie.com, and/or the user who contributed this post, may earn commissions or revenue through clicks or purchases made through any third-party links contained within the content above.

MuadDib
MuadDib - 6/30/2025, 6:37 PM
I’d be fine with their first meeting being off screen, but also feel we need a Worlds Finest movie, which would be the complete opposite of BvS.

It doesn’t need to be campy, and Batman can still be the dark brooding character we all know and love, but they should be friends or at least friendly.

Still think Alan Ritchson would be the best fit for both Bruce and the Bat
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 6/30/2025, 6:41 PM
@MuadDib - World's Finest should be down the line. Not the next film for sure. That was one HUGE reason the DCEU failed; they jumped the gun for a money grab with BvS instead of building/fleshing out their universe.
CorndogBurglar
CorndogBurglar - 6/30/2025, 6:42 PM
@MuadDib - A Batman/Superman World's Finest movie should feature them as friends that squabble about each other's methods from time to time, but never leading to a fight. Any kind of fights between them should pnly happen if Superman is kind controlled somehow. And I'm not even sure I would want to see that play out, honestly.
MuadDib
MuadDib - 6/30/2025, 6:44 PM
@lazlodaytona - I don’t disagree, BvS was pushed much too early. A Worlds Finest movie should really only happen once Batman: The Brave and the Bold has had a chance to shine and the DCU Batman has established himself. No need to rush things and cram characters onto team up movies just for the sake of it.

That said, with the proper story, Worlds Finest could be epic
MuadDib
MuadDib - 6/30/2025, 6:45 PM
@CorndogBurglar - 100%
HashTagSwagg
HashTagSwagg - 6/30/2025, 6:45 PM
@MuadDib - It'd be like Cap and Stark meeting for the first time off screen.
CorndogBurglar
CorndogBurglar - 6/30/2025, 6:48 PM
@HashTagSwagg - Completely disagree with this, respectively.

We saw Iron Man and Cap's origins from day 1. It would make no sense to have them know each other before those movies lol.

This Superman has been Superman for 3 years. And Batman has likely been around for a bit too.

Its perfectly fine saying they already know each other.
HashTagSwagg
HashTagSwagg - 6/30/2025, 6:52 PM
@CorndogBurglar - Its a missed opportunity, this is a new Batman and new Superman, they don't gotta fight each other ala BVS but I still think it's important to at least show the trinity's formation for the first time.
CorndogBurglar
CorndogBurglar - 6/30/2025, 7:03 PM
@HashTagSwagg - Yeah, I think its wise to show the trinity's first formation as well. But that would be the first time Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman have all teamed up.

Nothing wrong with saying they all know each other, and maybe they've even all teamed up separately before. Just not all 3 at the same time.

I'm just saying, we're jumping into a universe where Super Heroes have already existed for a good bit of time. Including Superman, and very likely Batman. I dont see a problem in saying they already know each other or have met each other.
ModernAudience
ModernAudience - 6/30/2025, 6:43 PM
I'm so excited for the new DCU.
NinnesMBC
NinnesMBC - 6/30/2025, 6:50 PM
They were canonically reserve members of the JSA? Did not know that. But then again the JSA started in Earth-2 in an attempt by the company to put some order in all the different continuities before their decision to put them all in one single world and timeline with Crisis, so those must've been the Earth-2 versions so it would fit.

And I hope they also don't skip over their first meeting like they've done it with the Justice Gang's members (cringe ass name BTW) already being heroes, because this would be the kind of golden material to actually develop from the ground as a journey to make the audience take in to invest with both characters. Starting right off from the get-go with them as bros would be a waste of good conflict, drama and a lot of layers to explore as they find a common ground. This doesn't even mean they have to so toxicly at odds with each other like in BvS, but if they've already met and are on the same page, then that's just even more lazy.

Actually show us how they become the World's Finest.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 6/30/2025, 7:48 PM
@NinnesMBC - the Justice Gang is Guy’s informal name for the team…

He wants it to stick while others hate it as we have seen in footage
NinnesMBC
NinnesMBC - 6/30/2025, 7:55 PM
@TheVisionary25 - I've seen the footage. Judging by what comes after, Peacemaker S2, it's the cringe suits what will stick around longer.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 6/30/2025, 8:17 PM
@NinnesMBC - yeah , I think that’s a long term story developing
THEKENDOMAN
THEKENDOMAN - 6/30/2025, 6:52 PM
What kind of bullshit is this

😂😂😂😂😂

For [frick]s Sake
LenSpiderman
LenSpiderman - 6/30/2025, 6:56 PM
I bet Gunn is doing everything in his power to restrain himself. There’s a world where they become buddies after accidentally disrobing in front of each other on a cruise ship? That has James Gunn written all over it.
Deckacards
Deckacards - 6/30/2025, 8:09 PM
@LenSpiderman -

Batman: "Huh. Whadda ya call yours?"

Superman: "Superwilly. Whadda ya call yours?"

Batman: "Martha."

Superman: "WHY WOULD YOU SAY THAT?!"
ModHaterSLADE
ModHaterSLADE - 6/30/2025, 7:21 PM
I wouldn't mind if Gunn teases Superman, introducing Batman to the other heroes in an after-credits scene. It's easy enough to just say he has a friend from Gotham he'd like the Justice Gang to meet.
TheVandalore
TheVandalore - 6/30/2025, 7:28 PM
In my original take on the DC Universe, each heroes origins take place in a different decade, the earliest being Diana's origin story, obviously. But in my take, Superman's first appearance in Metropolis would be in the 1940s (Superman was created in 1938), and his first time with Lois and the Daily Planet and his first big heroics would take place as a period piece set in the 40s, Superman would appear First to the world as Earths first Supe, even though Diana's origin happened before this, she was still on the island till her debut in the 50s. So to the world, Superman is THE PROTOTYPE first superhero, as he was in our real life. So when Bruce Wayne is growing up as a kid, he sees Superman and looks up to Superman, maybe even learns to resent Superman for not being there that night in Crime Alley.

But since Superman was the prototype, it just made sense for Bruce and the next generation to wear capes and undies with a logo on the chest when they designed their suits, Superman was the inspiration for the looks. Even if on some subconscious level, because of Superman is why so many heroes wear the same superhero type get up. When Hal returns to earth in the 80s, his Green Lantern suit he constructs he models after the Superman hero suit, with a chest logo and boots and everything. It's all tracked back to Superman's impact on the world, by the time the Justice League comes together for the first time in the 2000s, they've all had different experiences seeing Superman as a hero in the 40s, then a controversial figure in the 90s, then a straight up outcast by the time the 2000s roll around due to the world's ever shifting views on Superman over the generations.
mck13
mck13 - 6/30/2025, 7:46 PM
Gonna be so funny when all these adults over 40 see a Superman movie that has a 'child' theme with goofy/funny tone. I EXPECT this movie to TANNK off of word of mouth!
AnthonyVonGeek
AnthonyVonGeek - 6/30/2025, 8:04 PM
DCs best movie for me is…
User Comment Image
If they’re smart they’ll use this as a blueprint for Superman and Batman meeting for the first time…
User Comment Image
AnthonyVonGeek
AnthonyVonGeek - 6/30/2025, 8:05 PM
@AnthonyVonGeek - the first image was…
User Comment Image
MisterBones
MisterBones - 6/30/2025, 8:20 PM
DCU Batman should honestly emulate a LITTLE BIT of Morrison’s Bat God concept, to differentiate from Pattinson; as well as justify why someone as powerful as Doc Phosphorus would be afraid of him. It can run the risk of becoming self-parody, but when written correctly can work well. A super paranoid and overly prepared mastermind who dresses as a bat. MacGyver on steroids. A little Absolute Batman in there; a guy who’s just super resourceful as a tinkerer both with gadgetry and schematics and machinations. Genuinely mistrustful of everyone (to a degree). I think he should genuinely trust Clark though nut that doesn’t negate his paranoia totally, as he can’t turn off his paranoia completely.

User Comment Image

Basically a Batman with an almost "nigh omniscient" ability to have a contingency for hundreds of outcomes because he is so paranoid. He’s the ultimate doomsday prepper with access to billions of dollars. I’m not saying he’s nigh unstoppable with prep time always, but he’s more so a guy with a talent for crafting makeshift devices and schemes that allow him to stand beside Demi gods and aliens. He’s always thinking dozens of move ahead and has considered every possibility. Gotham is both a chess board and a playpen of sorts that he knows inside and out. The city is a breathing ally to him as he has access to everything in it and has made several hideouts, traps and all sorts of assitors throughout it built into the city itself of utilizing the city itself.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 6/30/2025, 8:23 PM
Going by his answer , it seems more Superman & Batman have not interacted yet so it would be cool to see them teamup with each other as their first interaction…

Hell , you could do a version of Public Enemies where there can be conflict & such but you see their friendship develop too.

User Comment Image

Please log in to post comments.

Don't have an account?
Please Register.

View Recorder