While several rumors have emerged about who will play the DCU’s Batman, James Gunn has made it clear that casting depends on 1 thing, and that’s good.
SUMMARY
Casting for the DCU’s new Batman actor is still some time away, as James Gunn says there is no script for The Brave and the Bold yet.
All Batman casting news should be considered false until a writer is attached to the project or Gunn confirms a script is done.
The Brave and the Bold movie is likely to have a late 2026 release date due to the crowded schedule of DC movies before then.
There is a reason why the casting of a new Batman actor for The Brave and the Bold is taking so long, and it makes perfect sense. Ben Affleck previously played the Batman of the DCEU.
With the shared universe coming to an end in 2023, both Affleck and Michael Keaton, who returned as his version of the Dark Knight in The Flash, are done with the character. Instead, a new Batman will be cast for The Brave and the Bold, the announced reboot film of the Dark Knight for James Gunn’s new DC Universe.
Gunn has shared some details of The Brave and the Bold, revealing that the movie will follow Bruce Wayne discovering that he has a son, Damian Wayne, and getting to know him. This premise sets the DCU’s Batman apart from the DCEU’s, finally teaming up Batman and Robin in a movie for the first time since 1997’s Batman & Robin.
Several rumors have come up about who will play the DCU’s Batman, with The Boys‘ Jensen Ackles and Reacher‘s Alan Ritchson among the fan-favorites, but the DCU’s Batman casting is still some time away for a key reason.
James Gunn Says Batman Will Not Be Cast Before The Brave And The Bold Script Is Ready
Gunn’s Claim Matches The DCU’s Casting So Far
Following a new rumor that claimed a casting call for The Brave and the Bold‘s Batman would soon be out, Gunn has denied the latest Batman casting rumor. According to DC Studios’ creative chief, the casting for the new Batman actor is still some time away, as Gunn says, “It’s totally false. We don’t have a script yet.” Gunn has previously debunked a few rumored Batman castings using the same argument of The Brave and the Bold not having a script yet.
Based on that, until a writer is reported to be attached to the project or Gunn himself confirms a script is done, all Batman casting news should be considered false. Gunn recently debunked that Skyfall‘s John Logan had been hired or even in talks to pen The Brave and the Bold‘s script. Gunn saying that Batman will only be cast after The Brave and the Bold‘s script is ready makes sense, as the same happened for the casting of Superman, Supergirl, and the rest of the already cast DCU characters.
James Gunn previously said The Brave and the Bold would be the project where the DCU’s Batman would debut.
When The Brave And The Bold Could Be Released
The DCU Batman Reboot Is At Least A Couple Of Years Away
It would not be surprising if casting for The Brave and the Bold were only to take place in late 2024 or early 2025. The movie is looking at a 2026 release at the earliest, as 2025 already has two DC movies, the number Gunn is aiming for, including The Batman – Part II.
As Milly Alcock has already been cast as the DCUs Supergirl, it is likely that Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow will take one of DC’s 2026 slots, which would leave The Brave and the Bold looking at a possible late 2026 release date.