Did James Gunn Just Confirm Robert Pattinson as the DCU’s Batman?

James Gunn recently spoke about the future of DC Studios, shedding some light on the roles of Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, and Supergirl in the new DC Universe. In a conversation with Entertainment Weekly, Gunn confirmed that these four heroes are currently the main focus, saying, “I think that’s accurate, actually. I think that he [David Zaslav] got that from me… those four characters are incredibly important to us.”

Gunn made it clear that while these four are key, they aren’t the only heroes DC is focusing on. But right now, he said he feels good about where the two of them stand, while the studio is still figuring out the other two.

When asked if Batman and Wonder Woman had been cast, Gunn answered, “No… Well, we cast Robert Pattinson, so he is still there.” Seemingly confirming that he in some ways considers Pattinson to be part of the DCU as well.

Previously, when Gunn was asked about Pattinson being DCU’s Batman, he confirmed that there have been some talks and “never say never.”

He, however, went on to say that Matt Reeves’ work on The Batman and its upcoming sequel is still a major part of DC’s plans. Gunn said he’s looking forward to reading the script soon, adding, “What Matt’s doing is still really important, despite all stories to the contrary.”

This sparked more questions about how DC is handling different storylines, especially with Gunn and Peter Safran pushing for a connected DC Universe, while also allowing projects like Reeves’ Batman films and the Penguin series to exist separately under the Elseworlds label.

Gunn explained the approach, saying the main focus will be the DCU, but there’s still room for Elseworlds stories when it makes sense. He used animated shows as an example of where different rules can apply. But for the main universe, things like characters’ power levels and city names have to stay consistent. He said, “We aren’t the regular world; we’re the DCU. There isn’t necessarily Seattle, but there’s an Evergreen. There isn’t necessarily a New York, but there’s a Gotham.”

He also mentioned the importance of giving creative freedom, but said the studio is keeping a close eye on quality. Gunn praised Reeves as someone who blends big spectacle with strong artistic vision. “You have to stand up and listen,” he said. But that doesn’t mean anything gets a free pass. The script still has to be good.

Gunn shared a story about an actor who pitched an Elseworlds idea. “I said, ‘It depends on how the screenplay comes out… If it’s a masterpiece, I’ll make it, but it has to be a masterpiece.’” The actor seemed unsure, but is still working on the project.

Gunn closed by saying they want to keep things clear between the main DCU and Elseworlds projects. He also said DC Studios won’t just hand out its characters to small TV projects without quality control anymore. “It is having some sense of quality control over everything,” he said.

It looks like Gunn is trying to bring order to the DC Universe while still making space for creative stories. He seems serious about quality and clarity, which is a good sign for fans who want better DC films. What do you think about Robert Pattinson’s role and the future of the DCU? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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