UPDATE: James Gunn was asked about the below rumor on Threads and said that it is not true.
There's always a chance the Superman director isn't being completely forthcoming here, but if the report was accurate, we assume he'd simply have chosen not to respond.
During a recent episode of The Hot Mic, Jeff Sneider said he'd heard that The Brave and the Bold is actually "further along" than people think, and DC Studios is aiming to get the movie into production next year.
Sneider added that he doesn't know if Andy Muschietti will helm or if "Gunn will direct it himself," but theorises that the recent Welcome to Derry Season 2 news might be the impetus for The Flash director officially announcing that he's parted ways with the project.
This obviously remains to be seen, but Cartier Films, who runs the @AtlantaDCFans account, is now reporting that DC Studios is aiming to get TBATB into production by the end of 2027. The site adds that "the studio is being extremely cautious with the character, fully aware of how important Batman is to the DCU."
DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn recently debunked a rumor that Batman: The Brave and the Bold had been put on hold until the WBD/Paramount merger is settled, but even when (if?) the movie does enter production, will Andy Muschietti be at the helm?
When the news broke that Muschietti had been chosen to helm the project, Gunn and fellow DC Studios co-CEO Peter Safran said they enlisted the filmmaker on the strength of his work on The Flash.
“We saw The Flash even before taking the reins at DC Studios, and knew we were in the hands of not only a visionary director but a massive DC fan,” Gunn and Safran said in a joint statement. “It’s a magnificent film – funny, emotional, thrilling – and Andy’s affinity and passion for these characters and this world just resonates through every frame. So, when it came time to find a director for The Brave and the Bold, there was really only one choice. Luckily, Andy said yes. Barbara signed on to produce with us and we were on our way. They’re an extraordinary team, and we couldn’t have better or more inspiring partners as we embark on this thrilling new adventure in the DCU.”
This was before The Flash hit theaters, and the movie's underperformance at the box office (it actually received a mostly positive critical reception) led to speculation that Muschietti may have been taken off the project.
There's also been some resurfaced chatter that Gunn might be planning to introduce an older take on Bruce Wayne (possibly even in his 50s).
Gunn addressed the older Batman rumor during a 2025 interview, when he was asked if DCU's Dark Knight would be in his mid-to-late 30s, given the fact that Damian is typically portrayed as a 10-year-old.
"No, I think you have to wait to see the movie. Some things have changed. Plenty of things are in flux on what his situation is with his parentage and all that stuff, so I wouldn't take any of it–Yeah, I mean, the actor who wants to... Listen, first of all, I can't tell you the amount of big actors that have told me they want to be Batman. I think you'd have a harder time finding actors who don't want to be Batman. He's the one character everyone wants to play. That's the truth."
When asked whether Damian was even still part of the movie, Gunn replied: "I think you have to wait to see exactly what's happening."
Would you like to see Gunn direct The Brave and the Bold? Let us know in the comments.