James Gunn’s Next DCU Film: Superman and Batman Team-Up?

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Lately, the news from the DC Universe has been pouring in rapidly. The director of Superman and a key figure in the DCU, James Gunn, has commended Mike Flanagan’s script for the upcoming Clayface movie. However, Daniel Craig’s departure from Sgt. Rock came as an unexpected surprise. There is much conjecture about what Gunn’s next directorial project will be. During their DC Studios Panel to discuss all things related to the DCU, Gunn was somewhat evasive about this upcoming project:

I’m currently working on and planning another project, which will be my next directorial endeavor. This project is thematically linked to my previous work.

In light of that response, there’s a lot of excitement brewing about potentially seeing a genuine World’s Finest film starring Superman and Batman. Following the less-than-favorable reception of Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, a movie directed by Gunn could serve as an enjoyable change of pace. For many years, DC Comics have produced team-up comics under the World’s Finest banner, with the latest edition appearing a couple of years back.

A hypothetical Superman and Batman film might star David Corenswet as Clark Kent, with a future Batman still unannounced. Remember, this is just speculation. Gunn has confirmed that Robert Pattinson’s Batman will continue in the “Elseworlds” universe, distinct from the DCU. The character was initially meant to debut in The Brave and The Bold, directed by Andy Muschietti (It); however, it seems this movie is facing delays. Nevertheless, Safran mentioned that “the story is progressing well.

When Will the DCU Batman be Introduced?

As a fervent fan, I can’t help but wonder when we might finally welcome the new Bruce Wayne into the DC Universe now that Gunn has quelled the speculations about Robert Pattinson’s Batman. With the script for “The Brave and the Bold” still under development, there’s a possibility he could make an appearance sooner, perhaps in another film. As Gunn himself put it:

I’m keeping an open mind about it. There’s a possibility he might appear in another project, but as of now, that character hasn’t been brought to life by an actor.

It’s also worth noting that, similar to how it is in the MCU, Gunn and Safran have not set a release date for any upcoming DCU movies until a solid script or at least a draft has been written. For instance, the announcement of the Clayface movie was made even though there were no initial plans for one. However, Flanagan’s exceptional script led to the film’s production, illustrating the challenges in creating a movie with a predetermined release date but no screenplay as yet.

Creating a great film from a well-written script is challenging enough. Nearly impossible, however, is crafting a movie when you’re frantically writing the script as you go along.

As a movie enthusiast, I must share that although production for The Batman: Part II is set to commence later this year, with an expected release date of October 1, 2027, director Matt Reeves hasn’t finalized the full script yet. The co-chairmen are keen on avoiding any confusion among viewers regarding which Batman tale belongs to the DCU canon and which falls under the Elseworlds Universe. Consequently, there’s been minimal public disclosure about the DCU Batman at this stage.

Superman is the first DCU movie, and it opens on July 11, 2025.

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2025-02-25 00:02