Following a report about Robert Pattinson's Batman potentially being integrated into the DC Universe, James Gunn has come out to debunk the rumor. The future of the DCU (formerly known as the DCEU) is up in the air as DC Studios was launched on November 1 as a new direction for the brand. Gunn and Peter Safran will together lead DC Studios which is replacing DC Films, the division that was previously led by Walter Hamada, who exited the company earlier this fall. Gunn will oversee the creative aspects of DC Studios, while Safran is in charge of the business side for their DC movies, TV shows, and animated projects.Earlier today, Variety claimed that "a well-placed source" had told them that Gunn and Safran were reportedly looking to have Pattinson's Batman join the DCU. The initial report claimed that nothing was set in stone but that the two DC Studios co-CEOs were "exploring the possibility of incorporating" the latest cinematic iteration of the Dark Knight from filmmaker Matt Reeves. However, it didn't take long for Gunn himself to come out on Twitter and debunk the trade's report, with Reeves also making a comment, as they shared the following:
Why James Gunn Needs To Announce DCU Plans ASAP
Last week was a PR nightmare for Warner Bros. Discovery when reports began to emerge about what was going on with DC Studios' long-term plans for the franchise. Those reports indicated that Wonder Woman 3 had been scrapped and were accompanied by conflicting stories about how Patty Jenkins supposedly walked away from it. There has also been uncertainty about what is going on with several established Justice League actors, including Henry Cavill's Superman, Jason Momoa's Aquaman, and whether they actually have new films coming up after 2023. Despite Wonder Woman 3 being scrapped, Gal Gadot may or may not still be attached to the role.
Even though Gunn and Safran are reportedly going into Warner Bros. Discovery this week to present their plans to CEO David Zaslav, it's not stopping trades and other outlets from posting scoops and exclusives about what they hear about the DCU. Even though Gunn is known for being willing to clear the air on false reports, it's not stopping various places from sharing supposed "inside information." It's clears, however, that Gunn and Safran need to reveal their plans sooner rather than later. The longer this goes on, the more rumors about DC Studios are likely to emerge, continuing a cycle of falsities and what-ifs.
With social media already conflating these reports and putting many at odds with the media, the studio, and more, Gunn's consistent debunking of these reports is a clear indicator that clarity is necessary. Still, he and Safran have to walk a fine line as they risk dampening the excitement of the already announced slate if they reveal changes that could make upcoming movies like Aquaman 2 and Shazam! Fury of the Gods superfluous to the DCU's future. Even though Gunn could give detailed responses over and over again about the state of the DCU, it would do more good for them to try to unveil something about their 10-year-long plan.
Source: James Gunn, Matt Reeves
