James Gunn Confirms the DCU Batman Plans Have Changed Since ‘The Brave and the Bold’ Was Announced

Few superhero projects have been teased as long as the DCU’s version of the Dark Knight. For years, fans have wondered when the new Batman would arrive, who would wear the cowl and what story would introduce him. Now James Gunn has offered a small but significant update about the DCU Batman plans.

When Gunn and Peter Safran unveiled their DC slate in January 2023, ‘The Brave and the Bold’ was positioned as the introduction of the DCU’s Batman. Gunn described it as the story of Batman and his actual son, Damian Wayne, and the beginning of the Bat-Family in the DCU. Andy Muschietti, who directed ‘The Flash,’ was later tapped to direct.

Years of waiting followed. Gunn said in late 2024 that there was no set timeline and that the movie wouldn’t move forward without a script he was totally happy with. In January 2026, The Hollywood Reporter reported that Christina Hodson, who previously wrote ‘The Flash’ and ‘Birds of Prey,’ had been tapped to write it, and Gunn said he was working closely with the writer.

That brings us to this week. On Threads, a fan asked Gunn whether the plans for the DCU Batman had changed creatively since the 2023 announcement of ‘The Brave and the Bold.’ Gunn answered with a single word confirming that they had, and he gave no details about what shifted.

The exchange came hours after the premiere of ‘Clayface,’ which Gunn called his favorite premiere in a long time. It also adds to earlier hints. Gunn told IGN that he liked where the script was but that plenty of things were in flux, and when asked about Damian Wayne, he said some things had changed, including details about Bruce Wayne’s parentage situation.

Gunn was pressed on whether Damian is still in the movie, and he told fans to wait and see exactly what’s happening. That leaves a big question mark over the story that originally defined the project. Since the original pitch centered on Bruce and his son, any change to that dynamic would be a major shift.

The film still lacks a release date, and no actor has been cast as Batman in the DCU. Reports suggest work on the project was on hold, with Muschietti reportedly telling a filmmaker in August that everything was paused until the Paramount merger was settled. Muschietti has also said previously that the project was postponed a bit.

Gunn has also said he doesn’t want to compete with Matt Reeves’ ‘The Batman Part II.’ That film is dated February 18, 2028, though filming is currently paused while Reeves handles a family matter. Safran has said there is no scenario where that movie doesn’t resume.

Meanwhile, the animated ‘Dynamic Duo’ is also set for 2028, and the studio has said it exists outside the main continuity. So a DCU Batman movie would have a crowded landscape to navigate. That helps explain why Gunn has been so careful about timing.

Responses to Gunn’s reply show that fans have one specific hope for the eventual casting: an actor around the same age as David Corenswet, the DCU’s Superman. That would suggest a Batman who can anchor the universe for years, rather than an older, more established figure. Some fans have also wondered whether the changes mean Gunn is taking a bigger creative role himself.

That is speculation, and Gunn hasn’t said who is writing what at this point. What’s clear is that the project has evolved since its first announcement. The question is how far that evolution goes.

For now, the best reading is that the DCU Batman is still in development, just not in the form originally pitched. Fans will have to wait for more concrete news, which may not come until after ‘The Batman Part II’ resumes and the studio’s other projects clear the way. Until then, a one-word answer will have to do.

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