Original plans called for The Flash to end with Michael Keaton's Batman a permanent part of the DCEU. He'd have gone on to appear in Batgirl and Batman Beyond, likely meeting Ben Affleck's Caped Crusader in Crisis on Infinite Earths.
Those ideas have all been scrapped since DC Studios was formed, with the plan now to introduce a new Batman in Andy Muschietti's The Brave and the Bold. That story will revolve around Bruce Wayne training his son, Damian, as Robin and adapts elements from Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely's Batman and Robin.
Heading into The Flash, we'd been led to believe the movie would set the stage for the DCU but if that is indeed the case, then it currently means George Clooney is that world's Batman.
In a recent social media post, James Gunn seemed to debunk that notion when he responded to a fan by saying Bruce hasn't been cast yet.
Interestingly, the DC Studios co-CEO also liked a Tweet from a fan over the weekend that read, "The ending contradicts the fact that The Brave and the Bold will have a NEW actor playing Batman, so is it safe to say that the Flash did not end in the new DCU proper, but a different timeline altogether?"
So, there you have it, The Flash didn't introduce the DCU and that world will be set in a new timeline. The DCEU as we know it is clearly dead (until the Aquaman sequel arrives, at least), and with the Scarlet Speedster's movie considered a failure, Barry Allen will no doubt eventually be recast as well.
It's a strange situation, but one which we hope to see become clearer in the weeks and months ahead.
The Brave and the Bold doesn't currently have a release date.
James Gunn confirms Batman will be Bruce Wayne and not the actor shown at the end of #TheFlash
by u/lawrencedun2002 in DCEUleaks
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