Why a New Batman Movie in the DCU Is Still Years Away – What Fans Need to Know

Fans eager for a fresh Batman movie in the new DC Universe (DCU) might have to wait a while longer. Despite the recent theatrical success of Superman starring David Corenswet, Batman’s return to the big screen within this revamped universe remains a distant goal.

Overview of upcoming Batman projects within and outside the DCU
Details on The Brave and the Bold and The Batman Part 2
Insights from James Gunn and Matt Reeves on their Batman-related films
Release timelines and how Batman fits into the broader DC Studios plan

Two Batman Movies, Two Different Worlds

Currently, Warner Bros. has two Batman projects in development: The Batman Part 2 and The Brave and the Bold. The Brave and the Bold was announced in 2023 as part of the DC Studios’ “Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters,” aiming to introduce the DCU’s Batman. James Gunn described it as the story of Batman and his son, Damian Wayne, based on Grant Morrison’s comics. Damian is portrayed as a tough Robin, a “little assassin” Batman tries to guide.

Gunn recently updated fans via GamesRadar, saying, “We’re working on a script. We have a screenwriter who’s hammering away at it. I’m very involved, and so we’ll see what happens next. I wish I had more news for you, but I don’t.” The Flash director Andy Muschietti is attached to direct but admitted in January that he hasn’t discussed the project with Gunn since before Superman began filming in June 2024.

Muschetti said on Radio TU, “I’ve had conversations with James Gunn about the story concept, but we haven’t talked since before Superman began filming.”

The Batman Part 2: A Separate Crime Saga

Meanwhile, Matt Reeves, who helmed the 2022 The Batman, confirmed that the script for The Batman: Part 2 is complete. This film is part of a standalone trilogy, or “Crime Saga,” which exists outside the DCU continuity. It also connects to the HBO series The Penguin, which is separate from the DCU storyline.

During a DC Studios presentation, James Gunn and co-CEO Peter Safran clarified the distinction between these projects. Gunn stated, “Clayface is totally DCU,” while Safran explained, “The only thing that’s in Matt’s world, his Crime Saga that he’s telling, is the Batman Trilogy, the Penguin series, that’s in that lane. So still under DC Studios, still under us.”

Safran added, “It was important that Clayface be part of the DCU. It’s an origin story for a classic Batman villain that we want to have in our world.”

When Can We Expect New Batman Films?

As of now, the DCU Batman film, The Brave and the Bold, is still in script development with no confirmed release date. Meanwhile, The Batman Part 2 is scheduled to start filming by the end of 2024, aiming for an October 1, 2027 release.

In the meantime, DCU has other projects lined up, like Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow set for June 26, 2026, and Clayface planned for 2026 as well.

For fans wondering about the dynamic between the new Superman and Batman, it looks like that special crossover will have to wait. But with the DCU’s ambitious ten-year plan, anything could change.

Watch the official introduction to the DCU Batman by James Gunn: