With theDCUset to officially kick off in cinemas next month with the premiere ofSuperman,many fans are shifting focus to the studio’s other heroes. Besides the man from Krypton, no other DC hero is as hotly anticipated asBatman. It seems like DCU co-bossesJames Gunnand Peter Safran are in a bit of a bind with the Caped Crusader, developing their own DCU-linked project as well as Matt Reeves’The Batman II,which continues to advance slowly.
Gunn has been very willing to engage with fans and the press regarding DCU updates, and he recentlysat down withRolling Stonefor an interview that shed some light on the Batman situation. Discussing the need to differentiate the DCU Batman from Reeves' shadowy vision,Gunn said that he’s “not interested in a funny, campy Batman.“But after 20 years of dark and brooding cinematic takes on The Dark Knight, a little bit of camp might not be such a bad thing.
The Status of the DCU’s Batman
As of now,The Batman IIis still moving forward, and it seems like Gunn is giving Reeves the time he needs to develop the project. In the interview, Gunn upbraided fans who have criticized the movie’s slow developmental pace, saying, “Let [Reeves] take his time. Let him do what he’s doing. God, people are mean. Let him do his thing, man.” Gunn no doubt knows the feeling of being in that position, having faced plenty of harsh online criticism himself. He also made it clear that, while the chances aren’t exactly zero, Robert Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne would most likely not be joining the DCU anytime soon.
James Gunn Confirms What DC Fans Want To Hear About Matt Reeves' ‘The Batman 2’
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This puts Gunn and his DCU cohorts in a bit of a tough position, needing to develop their own Batman project that is distinct enough from Reeves' to not feel like a retread or a cash grab. Little information has been shared about their version, currently titledThe Brave and the Bold,beyond its director, Andy Muschietti, but Gunn toldRolling Stonethat he thinks he and the project’s writer have found a “way in” to move forward. What that means exactly isn’t yet known, but Gunn made it clear that camp would not be part of the equation.
Why the DCU’s Batman Should Embrace Humor
It’s still far too early to know how the DCU’s take on Batman will turn out, butGunn and co. shouldn’t be afraid to embrace the character’s campier, funnier qualities, at least a little bit. Batman’s cinematic turns have been largely confined to the dark and brooding aspects of his persona for two decades now, since the release ofBatman Beginsin 2005. Since then, we’ve gotten Zack Snyder’s grim, glowering version, followed by Reeves' more artful but still mostly serious take.
The only exception would be the Lego version of Batman, seen inThe Lego MovieandThe Lego Batman Movie,voiced perfectly by Will Arnett.Making more room for humor and a lighter, more colorful touch would make the DCU’s Batman stand out in comparison to Reeves' project, which is likely to continue in the same vein as the first film (unless Reeves decides to pull a Todd Phillips andturn the sequel into a musical, which probably isn’t such a good idea). As good as Christopher Nolan’s and Reeves' takes on the character are, if the DCU makes their Batman too grim and gritty, some amount of fan fatigue could quickly set in.
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Obviously, nobody, from Gunn to the fans, likely wantsThe Brave and the Boldtogo full Schumacher, butthere’s a way to approach the character with a lighter hand without making him so goofy as to lose any sense of stakes. While Gunn’s remarks might put an end to the possibility of the DCU’s Batman beingtoohumorous, for fans who might be yearning for a more lighthearted Batman, there is some reason to be hopeful. Gunn has made it very clear that his vision for the DCU involves embracing the heroes' comic book roots, reaching deep into their back pages to make projects that appeal to both longtime and casual fans.
While word fromearly test screenings was somewhat concerning, Gunn’sSupermanalready looks like the antithesis of Zack Snyder’s take, with a bright color palette and a deep bench of supporting players plucked from the comics. Gunn clearly loves these characters in a way that goes well beyond cynical brand extension, and the more deliberate pace of the DCU, in stark contrast to the Marvel assembly line, allows projects to take the time to develop until they’re truly ready. Gunn has said repeatedly that he isn’t interested in rushing a film to completion just to get it in theaters, so it’s likelyThe Brave and the Boldwon’t see the light of day until he feels it’s as good as it can be.
Besides this, the DCU’s “Elseworlds” concept allows for other versions of the characters that don’t have to be part of the main DCU canon, so maybe a funnier Batman might come along someday. Gunn no doubt knows what’s at stake, both for the character and the fans, but after 20 years of dark and brooding Batmen, letting in a little bit of light might be just what the franchise needs.
