James Gunn Sets the Record Straight on THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD and Defends Writer Christina Hodson
James Gunn has stepped in to clear the air around the DCU’s upcoming Batman movie, and he didn’t mince words. With online chatter spinning up theories about The Brave and the Bold and some pointed criticism aimed at its screenwriter, Gunn took to social media to shut things down and back his creative team in the process.
The DCU officially launched in December 2024 under Gunn and Peter Safran, kicking things off at DC Studios and Warner Bros. Pictures with Creature Commandos. Since then, the rollout has been steady. Superman and Peacemaker Season 2 followed, and this year is packed with releases including Supergirl, Lanterns, and Clayface. Batman, however, is still waiting in the wings, and that waiting has made people restless.
That impatience spiked when it was announced that Christina Hodson would be working on the script for The Brave and the Bold. Some fans immediately pushed back, pointing to her work on 2023’s The Flash, a DCEU entry that didn’t exactly win over audiences. Gunn wasn’t having it and responded directly on Threads with a firm defense.
“I will only say anyone maligning Christina Hodson’s screenwriting skills has almost certainly never read an actual screenplay by Christina Hodson – she’s one of the writers who was with us early in the DCU planning stages. I don’t think you can judge my writing based on films others directed, as massive liberties are sometimes taken.”
That statement puts real weight behind Hodson’s involvement and also reminds people how much a finished movie can drift from what was originally on the page. Gunn knows that firsthand, and he made sure that point landed.
Gunn was also pressed about reports floating around online claiming that The Brave and the Bold might land anywhere between 2027 and 2029. Instead of locking into a year or teasing a window, he swatted the rumors aside altogether.
“The universe is rife with incorrect information about the Brave and the Bold on every level.”
Right now, The Brave and the Bold remains in pre-development. Andy Muschietti is still attached as director, though previous reporting has noted his involvement could hinge on factors like timing and availability. Whether that falls under the “incorrect information” Gunn mentioned isn’t clear, and Gunn didn’t elaborate further.
What is clear is that there’s no release date yet and no reason to panic. Gunn and Safran have been methodical with the DCU so far, and Batman’s return looks like it’ll arrive when the script, director, and overall plan are fully locked in.
For now, Gunn’s message is pretty straightforward. Trust the process, stop treating rumors as fact, and maybe don’t judge a screenplay you’ve never actually read.