James Gunn Considers Bringing Robert Pattinson’s Batman Into DC Universe, Matt Reeves Responds

James Gunn, co-chief of DC Studios, has revealed that he has “contemplated” bringing Robert Pattinson’s version of Batman into the broader DC Universe (DCU). Speaking on the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast, Gunn discussed the possibility, saying, “I’ve contemplated it, yeah,” while also clarifying that he considers all potential ideas.

Pattinson first appeared as the Caped Crusader in Matt Reeves’ 2022 film “The Batman.” This portrayal exists outside of the DCU, categorized under DC’s “Elseworlds” banner, which allows standalone narratives to exist apart from the main DC continuity. Gunn emphasized his commitment to developing both DCU stories and these standalone “Elseworlds” tales.

Matt Reeves, director of “The Batman” and its upcoming sequel, addressed the possibility of Pattinson’s Batman joining the DCU during his own appearance on “Happy Sad Confused” at the Golden Globes. Reeves expressed his focus on his standalone narrative, stating, “There was a story I wanted to tell. The epic crime saga. It’s been important to me to play that out, and James and Peter have been really great about that.”

When asked about the potential of Pattinson transitioning into the DCU, Reeves remained non-committal: “I don’t know. We will have to see where that goes.” Reeves is currently focused on “The Batman Part II,” which is set to begin production this year.

Warner Bros. recently postponed the release of “The Batman Part II” from October 2, 2026, to October 1, 2027. Gunn defended the delay on Threads, explaining that it is common for big-budget films to have extended gaps between sequels.

“To be fair, a 5-year gap or more is fairly common in sequels,” Gunn noted, referencing examples such as the 7-year gap between “Alien” and “Aliens” and the 13-year wait between “Avatar” and its sequel.

The delay was reportedly due to the script for “The Batman Part II” not being fully completed. Gunn has instituted a policy at DC Studios that prohibits production from starting until a script is finalized. He further commented, “Matt [Reeves] is committed to making the best film he possibly can, and no one can accurately guess exactly how long a script will take to write. Once there is a finished script, there is around two years for pre-production, shooting, and post-production on big films.”

While “The Batman Part II” remains outside the DCU, it continues to be developed under the DC Studios banner, signaling the studio's confidence in Reeves’ vision. The sequel will reportedly maintain its focus on Reeves’ crime-driven narrative, independent of the interconnected stories Gunn is building within the DCU.

Whether Robert Pattinson’s Batman will eventually make the leap to Gunn’s DC Universe remains uncertain. For now, Reeves and his team are concentrated on crafting the next chapter in their standalone Batman saga.