Warner Bros.' original idea for The Flash was for it 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 crossing paths with Ben Affleck's Caped Crusader in Crisis on Infinite Earths.
Those future projects 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 is expected to adapt elements from Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely's critically acclaimed Batman and Robin comic book series.
While Batman's scenes in The Flash were well-received (Keaton's more than Affleck's), some have questioned whether Muschietti can be trusted with a movie as important to the DCU's future as The Brave and the Bold.
James Gunn certainly seems to think so, anyway, and it now sounds like he's turned to a top-tier writer to pen the reboot's screenplay.
According to the moderators on r/DCEULeaks, "Three-time Oscar nominee John Logan ('Gladiator', 'The Aviator', 'Hugo', 'Skyfall') is in talks to write 'The Brave and the Bold' for DC Studios."
If that's correct, then it's bound to restore some faith in The Brave and the Bold. Logan also counts the likes of The Last Samurai, Spectre, Alien: Covenant, and Penny Dreadful among his many credits.
There's still no word on who will play the DCU's Batman. John Krasinski's name has come up a couple of times, while we know The Boys star Jensen Ackles is keen to suit up as the Caped Crusader.
Seeing as Gunn previously suggested The Flash would be what creates the DCU, there was speculation among fans The Brave and the Bold will see George Clooney reprise his role as Batman to train his son as Robin. Later, the filmmaker confirmed that would not be the case, making his cameo somewhat meaningless.
The Flash's closing moments would have been a great place to introduce the new Batman, but it's far too soon for that as the role is nowhere near being cast. The SAG-AFTRA strike won't have helped with that, of course, and Gunn's priority will likely be rounding out the cast of Superman: Legacy before he shifts focus to finding a new Dark Knight.
The Brave and the Bold doesn't currently have a release date but we expect it to arrive in theaters in 2026 or 2027.