New DCU updates have me thinking that we’re closer than ever to an official casting announcement for the DCU’s new Batman. Currently, Robert Pattinson is the sole live-action Dark Knight as the star of his trilogy from director Matt Reeves. However, The Batman, its spin-offs, and upcoming sequels are all set in a separate universe from the newly rebooted DC Universe. To that end, I’m feeling pretty confident that we’ll soon know who DC Studios’ other Batman will be for The Brave and the Bold.

During a recent “DCU Catch Up” event with the press, DC Studios heads James Gunn and Peter Safran offered several updates on established projects that were previously announced to be in the works. They also revealed a handful of new DCU projects, including upcoming animated series like My Adventures with Green Lantern, Starfire, and Super Powers. That said, it was their comments about the DCU Batman that got me the most excited, dispelling some rumors while also encouraging me to think a casting announcement will be coming any day now.

The DC Universe’s Batman Has Been Seen, But Not Officially Cast Yet

A Cameo In Creature Commandos

It’s worth noting that the DCU’s Batman has already made his on-screen debut. As seen in the animated series Creature Commandos, this new Batman is shown murdered among several other heroes in a dark vision of the future provided by the Amazonian sorceress known as Circe. Impaled upon a spear like so many other classic DC heroes, this future was thankfully prevented by Task Force M by the show’s end.

Likewise, Creature Commandos’ flashback sequences detailing the tragic origins of Doctor Phosphorus featured an even better look as the DCU’s Batman. However, he was largely kept as a silhouette when he arrived to crash Phosphorus’ party in Gotham, his imposing frame backlit by a flash of lightning. That said, neither of the DCU Batman’s cameos in Creature Commandos required a voice actor, as neither were speaking roles. This left the actual casting of The Dark Knight (be he animated, live-action, or both) still up in the air following the first official DCU project.

The DCU Will Need To Cast Its Batman For The Brave & The Bold

The First Confirmed DCU Batman Movie

Currently, The Brave and the Bold is slated as the first known DCU project that will have a live-action Batman. While plot details and information are still scarce, it’s been confirmed that the movie will feature Bruce Wayne’s son Damian Wayne as his current Robin, suggesting that Batman’s previous Robins have already moved on to become their own heroes in the DCU, such as Dick Grayson’s Nightwing and Jason Todd’s Red Hood. It’s also been reported through the trades that The Flash director Andy Muschietti has been hired as the new DCU movie’s director.

With the development of The Brave and the Bold being well underway, a live-action Batman will have to be cast ahead of the film’s start of production. After all, he is going to be the main character. However, it’s also possible that Batman could debut earlier than that, either with an appearance in something like 2025’s Superman or elsewhere ahead of Brave and the Bold’s release. As such, it’s certainly another solid reason why I think a casting announcement will likely be coming sooner rather than later.

James Gunn & Peter Safran’s DC Universe Updates Paint A Promising Picture Of When News About The DCU Batman’s Casting Could Emerge

Casting A New Batman Is “Imperative”

Custom Image by Lewis Glazebrook

At the recent DCU event with James Gunn and Peter Safran, both studio heads first confirmed that Robert Pattinson would not also be the DCU’s Dark Knight, and that the DCU and The Batman trilogy would not be merging into one continuity. As confirmed by Safran:

Peter Safran: “We’re in very active development on Brave In the Bold, and that story’s also coming together very nicely. And we’ll have more on that for you very soon. We love him (Pattinson), but we’ve got to introduce a Batman into the DCU. It’s imperative. That’s the plan for The Brave and the Bold.”

The official confirmation that Robert Pattinson will not be the DCU’s Batman is very good news. Matt Reeves will be allowed to continue fleshing out his vision for his version of Batman and Gotham City the way he always intended, without having to worry about integrating it into the larger DC Universe of heroes and more fantastical elements. Instead, I find it very exciting that casting a new Batman is “imperative” and a key priority for DC Studios. It’s going to be much better to have a new Batman, one who’s older and can have an established Bat-Family of vigilantes who’ve joined him in his crusade.

Who The Biggest DCU Batman Casting Candidates Are So Far

There Are Two BIG Fan Cast Contenders

At present, two predominant actors have been fancast as Batman with lots of online support. The first is Reacher’s Alan Ritchson, who’d certainly be one of the most physically imposing live-action Dark Knights to date. Not only does he have big franchise and action experience, but he also has key DC experience as well, having played Aquaman on the CW’s Smallville as well as Hawk in Titans where he fought side by side with other DC heroes (including two Robins). Likewise, Alan Ritchson himself has expressed his deep desire to don Batman’s cape and cowl if presented with the opportunity.

The second is Jensen Ackles. Like Ritchson, Ackles is the right age to play an older Batman with a family of vigilantes. He also has DC experience of his own, having voiced Jason Todd’s Red Hood in animation as well as Batman himself in the animated Tomorrowverse (meaning he already has a proven Bat-voice). Ackles also has live-action superhero experience, having played Soldier Boy on The Boys.

Both casting choices would be met with lots of enthusiasm, and the DCU does have its finger on the pulse of what audiences want, as proven with David Corenswet who’d long been a Superman fancast and Jason Momoa being recast in the DCU as Lobo. As such, casting Ritchson or Ackles is certainly possible, though it’s just as possible that DC Studios may go with someone totally new and unexpected as well. Either way, my fingers are crossed that we’ll be finding out who’s playing the DCU’s Batman sooner rather than later.