Gunn sets out the timeline and the criteria
James Gunn, who runs DC Studios, has given fans a rough sense of when a new Batman will be chosen for the rebooted DC universe. In a video preview from an upcoming episode of a podcast tied to The Suicide Squad, he said the casting is not far off, while making clear that nobody has been selected so far. He dismissed speculation that an actor might already be lined up to appear in a particular project.[S1][S2][S3][S4][S5][S6][S7][S8]
Gunn explained that he does not intend to limit the search to performers who have already worked with him. Even someone who had only a small part in The Suicide Squad would still be considered, he said, because he wants the widest possible field of candidates. His priority, he argued, is finding the person best suited to the part rather than the most prominent name available.[S1]
He drew a contrast with how he sees the two heroes being cast. Superman, in his view, has traditionally gone to whoever was judged the strongest actor for the job, while Batman has tended to be filled by established film stars. For this new version, he said, the aim is to follow the Superman approach and choose on acting merit.[S1][S6]
An age bracket that matches Superman
Asked by Steve Agee, an actor in The Suicide Squad, whether the age of a Batman candidate matters given that the role is meant to last a decade or more, Gunn answered that it definitely does. He said Batman and Superman are broadly contemporaries and not far apart in years, describing them as future close allies.[S1]
That guidance gives a rough benchmark. David Corenswet, who played Superman in last year's film, is 33, which points toward a Batman somewhere in his mid-30s. Corenswet is due to return in Man of Tomorrow, scheduled for release on July 9 next summer.[S1]
The new Batman film, titled The Brave and the Bold, was among the projects announced when Gunn and Peter Safran took charge of DC Studios in 2022. It is planned as a separate take on the character from the one Robert Pattinson plays in Matt Reeves' Batman series. The studio's first chapter also includes Superman, Supergirl, Lanterns and Clayface, along with other titles that have not yet been released.[S1]
