James Gunn Wants Fighter and Detective Batman For the DCU’s THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD
One of the most exciting things about Batman is that he can be shaped and reimagined in so many ways. Every new take on Gotham’s Dark Knight reflects a different side of what fans love most about him.
With James Gunn building out a brand-new DC Universe, one of the biggest questions fans have is what kind of Batman we’ll see this time around.
Gunn finally gave us a small tease when he appeared on the podcast 2 Bears, 1 Cave. While talking about the direction of the upcoming movie The Brave and the Bold, Gunn shared, "I like the detective Batman, but I also really like the fighter Batman, that’s just the brute that’s fighting."
That short but telling comment makes it clear that this version of Batman won’t just be a brilliant detective but also a brutal force in combat. It sounds like we’re in for a grounded, no-nonsense take on the character that blends the brains with the brawn.
So far, the only glimpse of the DCU’s Batman has come through a brief cameo in Creature Commandos, Gunn’s animated Max series.
In a flashback tied to Alan Tudyk’s Doctor Phosphorous, fans spotted the silhouette of a bulky Bruce Wayne. Since Gunn has said animated DCU characters are canon with their live-action counterparts, that scene gives us a small hint at the kind of presence Batman might have on screen.
Visual details about his costume and design are still being kept under wraps. Fans are already debating whether this Batman should sport the classic white eyes seen in the comics and animated shows or if that look would feel too impractical for live action.
Gunn, however, isn’t too worried about the surface-level aesthetics. As he explained on the podcast, what really matters to him is how Batman is portrayed as a character and what journey he takes in this new universe, which will also introduce a more hopeful Superman played by David Corenswet.
He also revealed there are internal conversations at DC about the color of Batman’s eye slits. “Should Batman have white eyes? That’s a big subject of conversation.
“It’s like, ‘Guys, that’s really what matters?’ But those are the things they care about. Should his utility belt be yellow? Should he have the yellow crest around the bat? All of that sort of stuff. None of those things are what’s most important to me.
“What matters is the character, the story and I think we have a really really good story now for what’s happening with Batman.”
Gunn wrapped up his comments by saying he’s thrilled with the story DC Studios has planned for Batman. That alone should reassure fans, even though the speculation over who will actually don the cape and cowl in The Brave and the Bold isn’t going to slow down anytime soon.