Not so fast on that Bat-Dial! Filmmaker and DC Studios Co-Head James Gunn has taken to Twitter to shut down a report by Variety suggesting plans that would see Matt Reeves’ The Batman film series integrated into a wider big-screen DC Universe that Gunn and Safran are currently mapping out.
Variety’s initial report indicated that Gunn and Safran are exploring the possibility of integrating the Batman/Bruce Wayne character portrayed by Robert Pattinson in this year’s hit film into a wider DC Universe. However, as he often does when debunking rumors, Gunn shot down the report on social media via his official Twitter account.
DC FILMS CO-HEAD JAMES GUNN SHUTS DOWN REPORT ON THE BATMAN JOINING LARGER DC FILM UNIVERSE
Gunn wrote on Variety’s report, “There are few reporters I love more than @adambvary – truly a good guy – but in this case, he needs to get a new source as this is entirely untrue.”
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Meanwhile, The Batman writer-director Matt Reeves himself chimed in on the issue as well on his own Twitter. He wrote, “The source I’m really liking on this is Mr. @JamesGunn.” This would appear to largely debunk the initial report on the matter.
Reeves’ The Batman film was released in theaters earlier this year. It did well at the box office, grossing $370 million domestically and $770 million worldwide. The film did well with critics, scoring an 85% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Later in April, at CinemaCon 2022, Warner Bros. Pictures announced that a sequel to The Batman was in the works, with both Reeves returning as director and Pattinson reprising his role as Batman/Bruce Wayne. Warner Bros. is also reportedly planning multiple television spinoffs for the film for HBO Max, including ones centered on The Penguin, portrayed by Colin Farrell, and another Arkham Asylum-themed show, which appears to have been altered from what was originally planned as a Gotham City PD-themed show.
Overall, it’s been a pretty wild and strange week for DC Studios rumors. Between Henry Cavill leaving the Superman franchise again when it looked like he had just come back to return for a new movie, and then Gunn also talking about a new big-screen Superman reboot that he is currently working on, it’s been wild to see the situation unfold.
Regardless, with so much information and so many rumors out there regarding the future of the DC Universe and DC Studios, it’s nice to see Gunn cut through everything and offer up some straight answers. Gunn has been fairly open and accessible regarding the future of DC Studios as of late, and if something isn’t true, it’s nice to see names such as Gunn or Reeves debunk it.
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The Batman sequel is currently in the works. Reeves is still working on the script at the moment. It does not yet have an official release date. The sequel would see Pattinson return as Gotham City’s Dark Knight, with Andy Serkis also back as his faithful butler Alfred Pennyworth. The first film also starred Jeffrey Wright as Jim Gordon, Paul Dano as The Riddler, and Zoë Kravitz as Selina Kyle (aka Catwoman).
What do you think of the news? Do you think Reeves’ world introduced in The Batman should be integrated into a wider DC Universe on the big screen? Or is it better left isolated in its own standalone Bat-Corner? Let us know what you think about the subject on The Illuminerdi Twitter.
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SOURCE: James Gunn, Twitter
