The Flash director Andy Muschietti and The Batman’s Matt Reeves have differing views on where Batman fits into the new DC Universe.
While the world does probably doesn’t need any more Batman news stories, it’s what’s happening behind the scenes at Warner Bros that makes this developing tale so interesting.
On the surface, we have two filmmakers who are linked to the studio’s new DC Universe, set to launch with this year’s Superman: Legacy, with each filmmaker set to eventually make their own Batman movie. Below that though, there’s an increasingly muddied public narrative emerging with each director making different noises about whose take on the Dark Knight will be the most important.
Matt Reeves, director of 2022’s The Batman was recently asked if his take on the character could eventually be folded into the wider DC Universe and he seemed more open to the idea than he has been in the past. He told Josh Horowitz that “it really comes down to whether or not it makes sense. What the future brings, I can’t really tell you. I have no idea right now… I don’t know, we’ll have to see where that goes.”
It’s also worth adding that stories have been circulating for a while now, suggesting that transitioning Robert Pattinson into the DCU version of Batman is a priority for Warner Bros studio boss, David Zaslav.
Of course, none of that will sit well with Andy Muschietti, who in the wake of The Flash’s release has been developing his own take on the character which was originally slated to be the DCU version of the Dark Knight. Entitled The Brave And The Bold – a name taken from a line of comic books featuring the character – this could be a lighter take on the Batman and would see him working alongside a Robin, something most Batman movies have tended to veer away from.
Well, apart from Joel.
Following Reeves’ comments, Muschietti was quick to get his take out into the world, telling an Argentinian radio station Radio TU (via Reel Anarchy) that Reeves’ take is misinformed.
“As everyone knows, the Batman featured in The Brave And The Bold will belong to the new DC universe,” he stated. “It’s quite obvious that Matt Reeves’ Batman is not part of this new universe. DC and Warner Bros. are moving forward with the second part of Reeves’ Batman series, which, as widely reported, is expected to release around 2027. This means the next Batman movie will take some time before it sees the light of day.”
A debate over which Batman gets to be in the DCU would only be speculation at this point, but what is interesting is that before it even has a film out in the world, Warner Bros’ superhero division is facing the same kind of public powerplays that were a hallmark of its previous era.
Remember Dwayne Johnson’s public brinkmanship over Black Adam getting to feature a Superman appearance? James Gunn could do with sorting this out behind the scenes because the public sphere doesn’t really feel like the right place for these opposing assertations.
Besides, they’re both obviously wrong. A live action take on Keanu Reeves’ Batman from the animated DC Super Pets is obviously the way to go. Expect to hear Film Stories on an Argentinian radio station soon, stating that opinion loudly and clearly.
