If the rumours that new DC Studios CEO Jeremy Latcham is plotting a reboot instead of sticking to James Gunn's DCU blueprint—initially dubbed "Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters"—are true, we may never find out what the Superman director had planned for this franchise.
Whether Gunn even had a plan has long been debated, though most reports suggest the filmmaker had at least two more Superman movies in the works, with the fourth one likely spotlighting the Justice Gang/League.
One of DC Studios' biggest issues has been an apparent inability to get The Brave and the Bold into theaters. Whether it's been a case of having to avoid stepping on Matt Reeves' toes as he develops The Batman Part II or struggles to figure out what a new take on the Caped Crusader looks like, the Batman and Robin film promised at the start of 2023 never materialised.
Andy Muschietti and Christina Hodson were attached to The Brave and the Bold as director and writer, respectively, reuniting them after 2023's The Flash (a movie Gunn hailed as among the greatest ever made). However, a new report from IndieWire suggests the Man of Tomorrow helmer was considering taking charge of the DCU's Batman.
"Insiders also note that Gunn and Safran didn’t have a chance to fully realise their vision of making superhero films featuring a wider variety of characters across a greater diversity of genres made for a broader range of budgets," the site explains. "[Gunn] had outlined a third 'Superman' film and was working on a 'Justice League' and a 'Batman' film, either one of which was expected to be his next project."
There have been rumblings about the DCU's Batman appearing in Man of Tomorrow's post-credits scene. While the role presumably hasn't been cast yet, Gunn would have plenty of time to prepare for that as his Superman sequel doesn't drop until next summer.
With The Batman Part II set for a 2028 release, it seems likely that Gunn might have made Superman 3 a Justice League movie and followed it with his take on the Dark Knight in 2031. Either way, fans have long suspected that he might take charge of The Brave and the Bold, and it's hard not to wonder what that might have looked like.
Other minor tidbits in the piece include Gunn and Peter Safran's earnings being a little too high for Skydance's tastes, with it mentioned that Gunn was potentially making as much as $10 million per film, including those he didn't write or direct. The Guardians of the Galaxy helmer's social media activity is also said to have "raised eyebrows."
As of now, Batman's DCU future is uncertain, though it's possible Skydance could choose to focus on The Batman franchise for the time being.