Yesterday, we saw the co-heads of DC Studios, James Gunn and Peter Safran, share some updates concerning their project slate focusing on a bunch of DC Comics adaptations for the big and small screen. Amid those updates from the duo first hired by Warner Bros. Discovery to form their superhero shingle in 2022, have revealed that not only is Robert Pattinson‘s Batman not going to be the DCU version in “The Brave & The Bold,” but also briefly mentioned their in-development “Booster Gold” series lost an unnamed showrunner.
While there had been previously coy responses to the idea of connecting the DCU to “The Batman,” that thankfully won’t be happening as Gunn puts it to Collider, “It’s certainly not the plan. It’s certainly not the plan, no.” Gunn continued his reasoning for that choice, “And we love [Pattinson as Batman], but we’ve got to introduce a Batman into the DCU. It’s imperative. And so that’s the plan with ‘The Brave & The Bold.’”
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Fans were likely aware of Pattinson’s cemented Elseworlds status once it was confirmed by Gunn/DC Studios with the first look at the real DCU version of Batman in a blink-and-miss cameo from “Creature Commandos“ (the first mainline DCU project from the studio). Bruce was noticeably a hulking animated incarnation of the Caped Crusader and seemed more in-tune with hopeful Alan Ritchson’s (“Reacher”) frame than someone like Pattinson, an obvious reason to believe Matt Reeves will be left alone to its own devices in the wake of successes of “The Batman” and the acclaimed HBO series “The Penguin.”
Reeves’ “The Batman” sequel is still poised to begin shooting later this year, although Gunn reiterates they don’t have a finalized script despite being greatly encouraged by what has been handed in and read by the studio team.
When it comes to the DCU’s Batman project, “The Brave & The Bold,” it still has Andy Muschietti (“The Flash”) attached to direct; there are indications from Gunn that a script (no names concerning screenwriters was bought up) hasn’t materialized that is pressuring them to get cameras rolling anytime soon.
A live-action “Booster Gold” series had been waiting on a new showrunner after an unnamed one (geek outlets once named Danny McBride, John Carcieri, and Jeff Fradley as the writing team after making HBO’s “The Righteous Gems” together) expressed interest, however, Safran alluded to THR that they have moved on, “maybe he fell out of love, maybe he got busy,” and “we had to pivot.”
The comedic superhero series is still in a stage of development, but it sounds like they’re still seeking some creative help, maybe Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg (the producing duo is behind “Preacher,” the modern version of “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” “Invincible,” and “The Boys”) could steer “Booster Gold” in the right direction? Time will tell.
This development concerning the two Batmans, I’m sure is both a relief to Reeves and Pattinson, alongside Gunn, who is now going to be not only in charge of rebooting “Superman” for audiences this July but also finding the next Batman that will get his other solo films separate from “The Batman” and what Reeves is up to in his version of Gotham.
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How and when we’ll get the the mainline DCU Batman actor is still a mystery but with his cameo established in “Creature Commandos,” other DC Studios projects may attempt to introduce the live-action take with a new actor in the near future.