RUMOR: Robert Pattinson’s Batman Could Become the Dark Knight of the DCU
Robert Pattinson currently portrays Batman in the The Batman series, which is separate from the DC Universe (DCU). The upcoming DCU film, The Brave and the Bold, is expected to feature a different Dark Knight. However, there are rumors that Warner Bros. Discovery is under pressure from the top to have Pattinson take on the role of Batman in the cinematic universe led by James Gunn and Peter Safran.
Given the massive appeal of the Dark Knight in the DC Universe, and with The Batman Part II slated for a late 2026 release, Warner Bros. may want a Batman movie to come out sooner to help the DCU compete strongly with the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). One option being considered is having Pattinson become the new Batman of the DCU after the release of The Batman Part II, with the The Batman franchise retroactively becoming part of the DCU.
Director Matt Reeves’ The Batman film series began outside the now-defunct DC Extended Universe (DCEU) when the film premiered in 2022, remaining under the Elseworlds banner, separate from the main DCU timeline. Since the announcement of The Brave and the Bold in January of last year, there have been few updates, with the most notable being the hiring of Andy Muschetti, director of The Flash, to helm the project. Recently, James Gunn dismissed a rumor about who would be writing the script for The Brave and the Bold.
It’s Still Unclear Who Will Play Batman in the DCU
There is no official word on who James Gunn and Peter Safran are considering for the role of Batman in The Brave and the Bold, one of five films in DCU’s Chapter One: Gods and Monsters. However, two MCU actors have shown interest in portraying Gotham City’s protector. One is Winston Duke, star of the Black Panther franchise, who voiced Batman in the Spotify podcast Batman Unburied. The other is Jake Gyllenhaal, who starred in Spider-Man: Far From Home and is a huge Batman fan.
The Batman Part II, which begins filming next year, will see Robert Pattinson return as the titular character. Colin Farrell is confirmed to reprise his role as Oz Cobb/Penguin, while Zoë Kravitz, Andy Serkis, and Barry Keoghan are also expected to return. Many fans had hoped to see Pattinson make a cameo in the The Penguin series, which takes place a week after the events of The Batman. However, both Matt Reeves and The Penguin showrunner Lauren LeFranc refuted the possibility of a cameo, stating that the HBO series’ story would work better without the Dark Knight.
Pattinson’s Batman has been a major success for Warner Bros. and DC, with The Batman grossing $771 million globally and earning critical acclaim, including three Academy Award nominations. The sequel may not only pit Pattinson’s Batman against Penguin and Keoghan’s Joker, but it could also introduce new villains like the Court of Owls.
The Batman Part II premieres in theaters on October 2, 2026.
