THE BATMAN: Robert Pattinson Could Become DCU's Dark Knight As David Zaslav Pushes For More Batman

Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav is reportedly piling on the pressure for DC Studios to do something with Batman and that could lead to Robert Pattinson's Caped Crusader eventually joining the DCU.

By JoshWilding - Sep 30, 2024 12:09 PM EST

Filed Under: The Batman

DC Studios is creating a new shared world meant to rival the MCU, but it sounds like Warner Bros. Discovery boss David Zaslav's patience may already be wearing thin.

Last year's strikes saw James Gunn and Peter Safran forced to down tools on several upcoming DCU movies and TV shows. While Creature Commandos is nearly here and Superman is in post-production for a summer 2025 release, there's still a long way to go until DC Studios can find even a measure of Marvel Studios' success.

Batman remains DC's biggest draw - even a show without him, The Penguin, is a ratings hit - but with The Batman - Part II not heading our way until 2026, what of DC Studios' The Brave and the Bold?

According to Hollywood insider Jeff Sneider, Zaslav wants the DCU's Batman on our screens sooner rather than later to better compete with Marvel Studios. One idea that's been mooted is for The Batman star Robert Pattinson to become the DCU's Dark Knight following the sequel's release.

This by no means sounds like something that's definitely happening, but it's a notion which makes sense on several different levels.

DC Studios has already given notes on The Penguin and Gunn and filmmaker Matt Reeves at least considered making the planned Arkham Asylum-set TV series part of the DCU (a move which baffled pretty much everyone when it was meant to take place in the same world as The Batman).

There's nothing in The Batman stopping it from retroactively becoming the first DCU movie, though how willing Pattinson will be to potentially spend the next decade showing up in all manner of crossover events is hard to say. Then again, Batman doesn't have to be a member of the Justice League in this new reality (we've seen plenty of iterations of the team without him).

Andy Muschietti was announced as The Brave and the Bold's director right before The Flash raced into theaters last June. Gunn called it one of the best superhero movies ever, but audiences disagreed. Reviews were so-so and the visual effects are still ridiculed over a year later. The haunting CG cameos also remain incredibly controversial.

The Flash was also a box office bomb and Muschietti helming DC Studios' Batman reboot feels equivalent to Madame Web director SJ Clarkson being tapped to helm Spider-Man 4 or entrusting Nia DaCosta with Avengers: Secret Wars after The Marvels' struggles. It doesn't add up.

Plus, how can any Batman live up to Pattinson's version? He's already a fan favourite and anyone who has to share the spotlight with him will surely struggle.

We'll see how this one pans out in the coming months.

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88 Comments

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ItsNotForMeWahh - 9/30/2024, 12:39 PM

Feels like the tone would really clash with what Gunn is making

PC04 - 9/30/2024, 12:52 PM

@ItsNotForMeWahh - Agreed. I can't see that working. The Batman should be treated as it's own world. I think adding anything to "super-powery" would sort of demolish it's allure. Like I can't see Green Lantern showing up in that space. It'd just be to weird.

ObserverIO - 9/30/2024, 1:24 PM

@ItsNotForMeWahh - The tone of The Winter Soldier clashes with Thor: Ragnarok. But it still works.

But I think they're just talking about Pattinson playing both variants, rather than The Batman being a part of the same timeline.

JonAwesome - 9/30/2024, 1:28 PM

@ObserverIO - Robert Pattinson’s Batman could barely take on street criminals, he would be zero match for super villains and would make no sense as a member of The Justice League.

GeneralZod - 9/30/2024, 1:36 PM

@ItsNotForMeWahh - Bingo.

TheNewYorker - 9/30/2024, 1:44 PM

@ItsNotForMeWahh - Exactly. Gunn would need George Clooney’s Batman 🤭

ObserverIO - 9/30/2024, 1:53 PM

@JonAwesome - Like I said they might just mean that Pattinson plays both Batmen.

But still, every version of Batman is shit when they first start.
This Batman...

became this Batman...

GeneralZod - 9/30/2024, 1:54 PM

@ObserverIO - Re Bucky and Thor: Ragnarok -- yes, correct. It works. It works because Kevin Feige went to great lengths during that epic 11-year Phase 1, 2 and 3 run to ensure producers and directors were putting up content that was more or less consistent with the growing Marvel Studios brand. When audiences (i'm talking pre-Phase 4) saw that "Marvel Studios" banner (with audiences often breaking out into applause), they are expecting (i) a really good product that tonally is consistent with the prior Marvel Studios films they've seen, regardless of the character, AND (ii) characters to cross-over in each other's films (fundamentally, Stan Lee's shared universe idea from the 1960s). Unfortunately, I see Pattinson Batman as such an outlier into the overall DCU.

McMurdo - 9/30/2024, 2:01 PM

@ObserverIO - they are definitely not in any way discussing him as a variant.

Steel86 - 9/30/2024, 2:08 PM

@ItsNotForMeWahh - I just don't get this thinking. The comics have different looks and tones, Marvel heroes all have different looks and tones and Pat Batman universe can be separate and then they are put together. One doesn't have to be the other. And in fact when those two worlds collide is what makes for better conflict between the heroes.

Steel86 - 9/30/2024, 2:11 PM

@JonAwesome - True but remember this is a year 2 Batman. They can easily do a few years time jump for when he joins the JL. And this Batman is smart just like the comics so he can easily hook up with another hero to help him advance his tech for an advantage.

dragon316 - 9/30/2024, 2:12 PM

@ObserverIO - and Batman fans say Batman doesn’t kill use guns

UltimaRex - 9/30/2024, 12:39 PM

Batman at all costs hm?

Urubrodi - 9/30/2024, 12:42 PM

Don't think The Batman is as great as some others do but it's a good film and it'd make sense to just incorporate it into the DCU. It'd be easy to add Robin into the story later if they want to and you have an already established and well liked version of the character. What if The Brave and the Bold is considerably worse than The Batman (which had a good chance of happening)? That would end this universe before it starts. DCU needs Batman to be good, it cannot fumble this character.

HulkisHoly - 9/30/2024, 1:18 PM

@Urubrodi -

It’s totally doable and infinitely smarter than having two separate Batman’s sharing the big screen.

The Batman II could even have flashbacks to his days with Talia and Ras Al Ghul to set up roving showing up in the third film. Or if reeves is adamant about finishing his trilogy, just introduce Patman in the brave and the bold film and have Damian show up then.

Gunn wouldn’t have to reinvent Gotham AGAIN sense reeves already did and incredible job for him.

Lastly, Patman could absolutely fit in the DCU. Iron Man and Winter Soldier made it work in the same universe at GotG and Thor 🤷‍♂️

McMurdo - 9/30/2024, 2:03 PM

@HulkisHoly - zero chance this happens. Pattinson hasn't even played Bruce Wayne yet. Gunn's gonna want a different actor. Just zero chance this happens.

Moriakum - 9/30/2024, 12:42 PM

WB/DC being WB/DC. They want a cinematic universe with the success and scale of the MCU, but without the work and patience it requires. The bosses change, but it's always the same.

MG0019 - 9/30/2024, 1:36 PM

@Moriakum - For Real! Making the EXACT same mistake as BvS Dawn Of Catching Up With Marvel.

Zaslav really needs to shut up & stay out of it. This isn’t some product you can just poop out every quarter. Creation takes time. Heck Marvel’s suffering too, & their only success is because they built up Jackman in a yellow suit for Twenty Years. Let Gunn cook.

JFerguson - 9/30/2024, 12:45 PM

I used to want this. But now I don’t. Reeves vision is uncompromising for a shared world with superpowers. It would be jarring

HulkisHoly - 9/30/2024, 1:18 PM

@JFerguson -

Nah it’s doable.

McMurdo - 9/30/2024, 2:03 PM

@HulkisHoly - would be awful

Alucard28 - 9/30/2024, 12:45 PM

I don't think that a Batman who knocks the door on the bad guys place could fit in a more fantastic and wider universe.

CreateNowSlpL8r - 9/30/2024, 12:46 PM

I love how we'll call out the Flash for being a bomb but if it's Marvel, we make some kind of excuse.

mastakilla39 - 9/30/2024, 1:12 PM

@CreateNowSlpL8r - nah the marvels got dragged through the mud last year too. this site shits on everything even capollas megapolis jus becuz he's not a fan of cbms....like really?

WruceBayne - 9/30/2024, 1:44 PM

@mastakilla39 - yeah but The Marvels failures were blamed on Brie Larson and being considered “woke”, when blame should’ve been placed on the decision makers like Feige, the writers and producers.

EskimoJ - 9/30/2024, 2:27 PM

@CreateNowSlpL8r - Literally mentioned The Marvels and Madame Web in this same article; wipe your tears away to see.

Forthas - 9/30/2024, 12:50 PM

Could it be? Is Zaslav FINALLY seeing the light. The genre twisting grounded superhero films which have only brought acclaim and box office success to Warner Brothers should be the driving blueprint that guides future films. They made a fatal mistake when they did not combine the Dark Knight Trilogy with Man of Steel to launch the DC universe. Even though Reeves version is a slightly inferior Batman it is still a lot better than the goofball comedy films, TV shows, and cartoons that Gunn is promising us.

McMurdo - 9/30/2024, 2:04 PM

@Forthas - you say the same thing in every Batman article. And you always pretend Man of Steel was special for some reason.

ModHaterSLADE - 9/30/2024, 12:51 PM

Would be weird because Pattinson's Batman is supposed to be how Batman would operate in a hyper- realistic world. I thin the best bet would be just to get someone around the same age playing a Batman that has some experience, but could still be kept around for years to come.

HulkisHoly - 9/30/2024, 1:20 PM

@ModHaterSLADE -

I think it’s doable and smarter than two batmen on screen.

Just let reeves finish his trilogy and THEN have that Batman integrated into the DCU.

ObserverIO - 9/30/2024, 2:04 PM

@ModHaterSLADE - In a hyper-realistic world Batman would have killed himself or at least hospitalized himself after jumping off GCPD HQ and would never have been Batman ever again.

The cops (or The Penguin) would have used facial recognition technology to determine his identity when he was caught on camera at the Iceberg Lounge. Or when he was caught on camera anywhere in Gotham. He would be locked up.

His superheroic stunts in the finale (taking down armed terrorists and then saving lives while wearing heavy leather all over his body and head with a big [frick]ing cape no less.

Not very hyper-realistic.

McMurdo - 9/30/2024, 2:05 PM

@HulkisHoly - thats not what Zaslav wants. He wants it now. Reeves hasn't even started shooting Batman 2. Waiting till after three would be waiting for longer than if Gunn gets his Brave and the Bold.

McMurdo - 9/30/2024, 2:06 PM

@ObserverIO - that's just shoddy writing.

ModHaterSLADE - 9/30/2024, 2:22 PM

@ObserverIO - No, I said hyper-realistic, not realistic.

Only in a realistic scenario I could see what you typed happening.

ModHaterSLADE - 9/30/2024, 2:24 PM

@HulkisHoly - Meh, I doubt it.

This Batman just would be jarring trying to fit in with the over the top antics of the Justice League.

ObserverIO - 9/30/2024, 2:28 PM

@ModHaterSLADE - Oh my bad. I thought you meant like 'very realistic'.

DaHULK2000 - 9/30/2024, 12:56 PM

R.I.P. DCU.

This will kill the brand if its a allowed to happen. THE BATMAN was horrible.

McMurdo - 9/30/2024, 2:06 PM

@DaHULK2000 - it's not gonna happen. Zero chance.

MadThanos - 9/30/2024, 12:56 PM

The Brave and The Bold never made any sense to me. A comedic Batman with literally a kid in speedo fighting crime.

FireandBlood - 9/30/2024, 1:01 PM

@MadThanos - Damian is as deadly as X-23 and Hit-Girl. You’ll be sorely disappointed if you expecting some kid in a speedo.

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THE BATMAN: Robert Pattinson Could Become DCU's Dark Knight As David Zaslav Pushes For More Batman

Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav is reportedly piling on the pressure for DC Studios to do something with Batman and that could lead to Robert Pattinson's Caped Crusader eventually joining the DCU.

THE PENGUIN Episode 3 Preview And Featurette Released; Will THE BATMAN Sequel Adapt "No Man's Land"?

THE PENGUIN Episode 2 Recap: Sofia Falcone Is Unleashed And Oz's Plans Go Awry In "Inside Man"