James Gunn's new role with DC Studios could be good news for Ben Affleck's Batman future within the DC Universe. It was not that long ago that it seemed Ben Affleck's days of playing the Dark Knight were over. The turbulent production of Justice League left the actor looking to leave, resulting in DC Films making various moves to keep Batman as part of the future in some form. This included bringing Michael Keaton back to the iconic role and casting Robert Pattinson as the new Bruce Wayne for Matt Reeves' The Batman franchise. All this was done under DC's previous leadership, so James Gunn's DC role leaves Batman's future in question.
As part of the announcement that Peter Safran and James Gunn will run DC Studios moving forward, the duo shared a statement that affirmed some of the characters they are committed to bringing to the screen. The list included Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, and Harley Quinn. Of those five DC characters, Batman is the only one whose future was previously uncertain now that Henry Cavill's Superman returned in Black Adam. With Safran and Gunn confirming they have plans to use Batman as part of the new DCU, it could be a good sign that Ben Affleck's Batman will stick around.
Is James Gunn Involved In The Batman's Shared Universe?
The news that Peter Safran and James Gunn are running DC Studios provided insight into what their Batman plans will and will not include. This included reports circulating that it is expected that they will not be involved in The Batman's shared universe. The franchise will reportedly fall under the supervision of Warner Bros. co-chairs Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy. The Batman's shared universe will remain separate from the DCU due to this move. If The Batman's future does pan out this way, James Gunn and the DCU will not be able to use Robert Pattinson's Batman.
James Gunn not being involved in The Batman's shared universe means that Matt Reeves will be able to continue creating sequels and spinoffs without worrying about how they connect to a larger franchise. It also means that Robert Pattinson's Batman will not be the version of the character DC Studios' new co-CEOs help oversee. That alone could be a good sign for Ben Affleck's future as the caped crusader. Unless Gunn and Safran decide to let Reeves' The Batman franchise flourish without a competing Dark Knight in other movies, their hope to use Batman could result in more appearances from Affleck.
Ben Affleck’s Upcoming Batman Appearances Are Good For His Future
The other good news for Ben Affleck's Batman future is that he already has multiple upcoming appearances that Peter Safran and James Gunn can build on. It has long been known that the actor would return in The Flash, which was expected to be his final appearance in the cowl. Instead, Jason Momoa confirmed the surprising news that reshoots added Ben Affleck's Batman to Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. This is a significant development as it suggests that the star has not quite fully closed the door on playing Bruce Wayne more. Between these two roles and returning for Zack Snyder's Justice League reshoots, Affleck has continued to return recently.
Ben Affleck's upcoming Batman appearances could now leave DC Studios in a position to build on this momentum. He will be the DCU's Batman for the immediate future, so it will be up to Safran and Gunn to talk to Affleck about his genuine interest in continuing to play the role. If he has rediscovered his passion for the character, DC's plans can incorporate Batfleck further. Whether that means bringing back Affleck's plans for a solo Batman project with Deathstroke as the villain is unclear, but anything would be possible. Furthermore, keeping Ben Affleck's Batman around can maintain the DCU's Trinity now that Henry Cavill is back as Superman.
Will James Gunn Help Restore Michael Keaton's Batman Future?
The other complication with Ben Affleck's Batman future that James Gunn will have to navigate is what to do with Michael Keaton. He is returning to his iconic role for the first time in 30 years to play Batman in The Flash. The movie was expected to establish him as DC's new main Batman and replace Affleck. This included him filming a cameo for Aquaman 2 before reshoots occurred. However, his future was changed by Warner Bros. Discovery canceling Batgirl, which Keaton was meant to return in. It left Michael Keaton's Batman future incredibly uncertain, especially as the reduced role for him seemed to come as Affleck's Batman role grew.
There is a chance that James Gunn could restore Michael Keaton's Aquaman 2 cameo. Ben Affleck's Batman return only seemed to happen because release date changes meant Aquaman 2 was going to come out before The Flash, so Keaton's appearance would not make sense. Warner Bros. has since delayed Jason Momoa's sequel, so the timeline could now work for Keaton's Batman to appear. However, if Ben Affleck is going to be the DCU's Batman moving forward, James Gunn could retain the new cameo if it better fits the franchise's future. That would leave The Flash as the only place where Michael Keaton's Batman will return.
Could James Gunn & DC Recast Ben Affleck’s Batman?
Another possibility for Batman's DCU future that is worth considering is if James Gunn will recast Ben Affleck. Even though the actor has filmed two upcoming appearances, these decisions were made under the previous regime. There is no telling if James Gunn wants to try and continue these storylines or if the DCU will undergo a soft reboot as part of the creative changes. It is also not known if Ben Affleck wants to commit to playing Batman for another several years. If the answer to either or both of those situations is no, then a Batman recast might be the only option for the DCU.
James Gunn and DC recasting Ben Affleck's Batman would be difficult to pull off. Audiences have already accepted Robert Pattinson as a new, younger Batman, and The Batman shared universe plans mean he will be around for a long time. Introducing another new actor as Batman to replace Ben Affleck could be incredibly confusing, especially if the recast included aging Bruce Wayne down a bit. There is no question that keeping Ben Affleck's Batman in the DCU is the easier move for James Gunn. He can continue as a grizzled Batman and leader of the Justice League.
There is even the possibility that keeping Ben Affleck's Batman around will help build out the Batfamily. This is still achievable through a recast, but it would be somewhat surprising for James Gunn's DC role to include introducing a new Batman and a new supporting cast of heroes at the same time. If Ben Affleck sticks around as Batman, heroes like Robin and Nightwing can easily and quickly be added to the DCU. James Gunn could even have Leslie Grace be Affleck's Batgirl to the DCU.
