James Gunn says the DCU's Batman hasn't been cast yet, but it won't be long

Let’s clear up who’s actually playing the new Batman in the DCU – and no, you haven’t missed a secret casting announcement. James Gunn himself has piped up on the DC Studios Showcase podcast to set the record straight on the next big-screen Dark Knight for The Brave and the Bold. Loads of fan chatter’s been buzzing around, but Gunn’s given it the sort of blunt response I can appreciate.

As Gunn put it on the podcast: "It’s all b——t."

Where’s the New Batman, Then?

No one’s got the Bat-cowl just yet, in spite of what you might have read on X, Reddit, or whatever clickbait’s out there. Gunn said the casting process hasn’t wrapped up, and was pretty firm that we’re not on the verge of surprise cameos or leaked decisions. But – and here’s the key bit – he did say things are moving and the search isn’t far off from being sorted. So, if you want a new face in the cape, you genuinely won’t have to wait years.

On the timeline, Gunn told the podcast: "It won’t be too long before we’re casting Batman, who hasn’t been cast yet, by the way, by all the people, thinking he’s going to show up in this or that."

The Brave and the Bold marks Andy Muschietti’s shot at a Batman film for this fresh shared universe, and whoever gets cast is going to be at the centre of DC on screen for ages – at least, that’s what Gunn wants.

How Old’s This Batman Supposed to Be?

This is where things get slightly interesting, if you’re the sort to re-litigate the Affleck vs Pattinson debates. Gunn said he wants someone who’s not just a safe bet, but actually the “best actor for that role”. Age is a factor though, because whoever lands the gig will – in theory – stick around as Bruce Wayne for a good decade. In Gunn’s words, that's “definitely” a key point: if you’ve been rooting for someone a bit younger, now’s your chance to start the speculation game all over again.

He did highlight that, comic-wise, Batman and Superman are roughly equals in age. Why does that matter? Well, David Corenswet is already playing Superman in his 30s, and it sounds like our new Batman will end up right in that bracket too. Officially, Gunn hasn’t named anyone or narrowed the age to a number. No triple-sourced confirmations, so don’t trust the “it’s definitely X” TikToks just yet.

Who Else Is Hanging About in the DCU?

Here’s the trivia only the diehards might clock: Gunn also said that his 2021 The Suicide Squad film is now officially canon in the DCU timeline, which has a few knock-ons. That means actors like Jai Courtney and Idris Elba (and probably a handful of others from that lineup) can show up elsewhere down the road. It’s a sprawling universe, so expect a few familiar faces, just maybe not in the roles you’d assumed.

David Corenswet is the current Superman, and the new Batman is likely to be cast around the same age range – early 30s.