James Gunn says his Batman film is not on hold, three years after announcing it

Look, the DCU and its handling of Batman is turning into a bit of a muddle—honestly, you’d think they were making it up as they go. There are two Batmen on offer: you’ve got Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne swinging around in Matt Reeves’s separate “Elseworlds” bucket, and then there’s the elusive version promised as part of the mainline DCU. That’s the one fans are waiting for, and right now, we’re all still waiting. Very much waiting.

The Brave and the Bold was officially named as one of the DCU’s earliest films at the relaunch in 2023, but has seen barely a whisper of movement since.

What’s Actually Happening?

The plan, at least on paper, is for a big, cinematic father-son drama: The Brave and the Bold, with Batman proper introducing Damian Wayne (that’s his son, and, yes, the new Robin). Andy Muschietti—he who made The Flash—is supposed to direct, using a script from Christina Hodson.

This was all locked in with some fanfare back in 2023 when James Gunn and Peter Safran announced the first DCU slate: Superman, Supergirl, The Authority, The Brave and the Bold, and Swamp Thing. Flash-forward to 2026, and only Superman and Supergirl have actually materialised. The Authority? Gone entirely. Swamp Thing and Batman are, generously, taking their time. Realistically, The Brave and the Bold is still vapourware.

Confusion, Rumours, and Slow-Motion Progress

Unsurprisingly, with so little visible movement, there’s been plenty of speculation things might be stalling. Writer Dan Marcus posted a rumour circulating that Muschietti had told him everything was officially paused until certain corporate merger bits were sorted. To his credit, Marcus only half-believed it; he admitted on X that the claim came out of a casual chat with Muschietti himself.

This pushed Gunn to step in online, swatting the rumour away with a post on Threads:

‘It doesn't sound like something Andy would have said, but the project is in no way on hold,’ Gunn wrote, trying to end the speculation.

The problem? Gunn’s word isn’t shifting the dial like it used to—after endless “the project’s fine, we're making progress” moments, fans (and frankly, the wider film community) are looking for actual news, not just reassurance. Especially after Supergirl’s rocky reception, people aren’t hanging on Gunn’s social posts for crumbs. We’re past the point of being content with vague teases; just give people something concrete: a cast, a production window, a logo reveal that isn’t recycled artwork. Literally anything substantial to make us believe there’s still life in this project.

• The Brave and the Bold was promoted as a priority DCU film in 2023, but right now, only Superman and Supergirl have reached screens.
• The Authority has been dropped outright; Swamp Thing and Batman are drifting in development hell.
• Andy Muschietti is still attached to direct, with Christina Hodson writing the script.
• No casting, no start date, and really, no hard news since the launch.

The DCU’s now got a Bat-shaped hole at its centre with no sign of filling it, and Gunn’s social assurances aren’t cutting it. If he wants to reassure fans (and, let’s face it, justify the DCU’s existence), he’s going to need to make something happen on Batman—stat.