Robert Pattinson Officially Opens Up About His Batman Joining James Gunn’s DCU

Before James Gunn and Peter Safran established the DCU, Robert Pattinson and director Matt Reeves had already released their 2022 flick, The Batman, which was considered part of the Elseworlds universe. However, Pattinson officially talked about his opinion on the possibility of Batman joining James Gunn’s DCU.

There has been a long-running rumor that Gunn is planning to integrate Matt Reeves’ Batman into the DCU. Well, the Primetime actor let out his thoughts about the idea in an interview with LADbible, and it seems that Pattinson disagrees with the idea quite strongly.

I think it would be kind of tough to have this version of Bruce outside of that world. It’s one of the only characters I guess because of the length of the shoots but also it’s such a specific kind of [style], the tone of it gets inside you.

He further added that it was ‘difficult to even maintain your sanity’ while shooting the Matt Reeves flick. Although Pattinson isn’t lying when he said the two sides of DC are highly different, there is a slight possibility that James Gunn might just be setting something up.

Is James Gunn Setting up Clayface for Robert Pattinson’s Batman?

A still from Clayface | Credits: Warner Bros.

Clayface is DCU’s first body-horror movie (with a new trailer released recently), and the film is disturbing. It’s so disturbing, in fact, that the trailer showcases Matt Hagen (played by Tom Rhys Harries) holding a pair of scissors near his eyelids to cut the clay-like skin!

However, this body horror flick might just open doors for Gunn’s DCU that were previously left unexplored. The DCU seems to be going in a darker, more mature, and grittier direction, something that is in stark contrast with Superman (2025). Although worlds will collide eventually, there is just the right amount of space for Robert Pattinson’s Batman if James Gunn decides to do so.

Speaking to Entertainment Tonight a while back, Gunn had shut down the rumors about Robert Pattinson’s Batman allegedly joining the DCU, but it could just be his attempt to keep it under wraps. The Suicide Squad director could be setting the stage for Pattinson’s Batman to join the DCU by releasing a dark and gritty movie like Clayface in 4 weeks (releasing on October 23, 2026). However, we do agree with the Primetime actor that Matt Reeves’ version of Batman will not work in the DCU.

Why We Think Robert Pattinson’s Batman Might Never Join the DCU

A still from The Batman | Credits: Warner Bros. Pictures

For starters, Matt Reeves’ The Batman featured a living, breathing Gotham City that seemed to reek of crime and corruption. On the other hand, the DCU is more of a character-driven universe where characters like Superman, Supergirl, and Lobo are given importance far beyond their surroundings.

The difference in vision is quite clear between James Gunn and Matt Reeves. The cinematography of The Batman is quite iconic but tends to shift towards darkness, contrasting greys, and a storyline that evolves to high standards of maturity and violence. On the other hand, James Gunn’s DCU is fun, chill, and there are plenty of moments where you can sit idly without thinking of what’s next. Therefore, it would be a bad idea for Robert Pattinson’s Batman to join James Gunn’s DCU.

Do you think Pattinson should join the DCU as Batman? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

The Batman is available to stream on HBO Max.