As the DC Universe has big plans for Batman in James Gunn’s superhero reboot, many are still debating who should be playing The Dark Knight in DC Studios’ franchise. While The Brave and The Bold movie remains in active development, Robert Pattinson’s iteration of The Dark Knight continues to be someone audience members want to see in the same world as David Corenswet’s Superman.
During ScreenRant’s Midnight Mass panel with Mike Flanagan and Kate Siegel at Motor City Comic Con 2025, the horror filmmaker talked about whether Pattinson could be the DCU’s Batman, as his Clayface film is coming up. He stated, “Of course, yeah. I gotta be careful. I know DC fans, especially, I don’t want to get on anyone’s bad side with this kind of stuff, because James Gunn is running DC his way, and I think it’s great.”
Flanagan made it clear, however, “I have no idea what the plan is for any of that. I do know, though, that Matt Reeves is a creative powerhouse.” He went on to share that he thinks “Pattinson’s Batman was excellent” when the actor made his debut as the character in 2022.
He also praised Matt Reeves’ franchise: “I think the world in the Gotham that he built is wonderful. I think The Penguin works on the big screen and on television.” According to Flanagan, “I do think there is a way to harmonize all of these elements into the DC Universe, which I think is what James is doing in his way.”
But Flanagan stressed that, “The thing is, I trust James, and he has not let me down as a fan. So I’m excited to see how they pulled this off, and how it could all connect, the ways it could all connect, that’s up to them.” With the Clayface movie, he is “just really grateful that I got to be a very small part of a very small corner of Gotham. That’s like a childhood dream of mine.”
Gunn has previously stated that the DCU’s Chapter 1: “Gods and Monsters” slate will feature a new actor playing the Caped Crusader, keeping Pattinson’s franchise separate as an Elseworlds property. However, as the script for The Brave and the Bold is still not finished, casting hasn’t started yet.
The Batman – Part II is set to begin principal photography in 2026, with the film slated to arrive on October 1, 2027. However, DCU audience members will be getting a chance to explore the new Gotham City through Clayface, which wrapped filming on November 1, 2025, as Tom Rhys Harries confirmed he had finished shooting.
Clayface opens in theaters on September 11, 2026.
- Release Date
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September 11, 2026
- Director
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James Watkins