James Gunn’s Surprising Social Media Reply Has Fans Wondering If Tom Brittney Is the DCU’s New Batman
There’s plenty of speculation swirling around the DCU these days, but the biggest question fans keep coming back to is who’s going to suit up as Batman in The Brave and the Bold?
Names like Brandon Sklenar and Alan Ritchson have been tossed around, yet nothing feels close to confirmed. With the film still in early development and Batman not expected to appear in 2026’s Clayface, it seemed like we were in for a long wait.
DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn recently shared a peek at the storyboards for his Superman follow up, Man of Steel, which is set to begin filming this April.
One fan jumped into the replies with a picture of actor Tom Brittney, a former finalist for Clark Kent, adding the caption, “Bruce says [merman emoji].” The merman emoji has a bit of a legacy thanks to Peacemaker, and Gunn uses it often on social media.
Gunn actually responded, writing: "That guy is a great f—king actor!"
The interaction flew mostly under the radar, yet it sparked conversation. Gunn rarely replies to posts like these, especially ones suggesting future casting.
Fans remember how he once dropped an image of Mister Terrific on social media before the character was publicly revealed as part of the Superman ensemble. He has a history of hinting at things in plain sight.
Tom Brittney was a top contender for Clark Kent alongside David Corenswet, and Gunn has expressed before that when an actor impresses him, he keeps them in mind for future roles. That has already played out once. Nicholas Hoult auditioned for Superman, didn’t get it, and later secured the role of Lex Luthor.
This wouldn’t be the first time Gunn has spoken highly of Brittney. Back in 2024, when a fan on social asked whether the actor wore Henry Cavill’s Man of Steel suit during his audition, Gunn answered:
"Yes. Tom messed it up and then Corenswet came in and he was way too tall, so it just got torn to shreds. BTW, Tom is truly one of my favorite actors. Incredibly talented guy."
Considering how often Superman and Batman have been drawn with similarly structured features and physicality in the comics, it wouldn’t be shocking to see someone who nearly became Clark Kent slide into the role of Bruce Wayne instead.
Gunn previously explained he does have actors he likes for Batman, though that doesn’t guarantee they’ll ultimately get the cowl:
"I mean, do I have ideas about actors to play Batman? Absolutely, I do. I have guys I like. I have guys that are at the top of the list for me. Just like I had people that were at the top of the list for Superman. But [...] those aren't the people... they aren't David Corenswet. So, they didn't get the job."
It’s entirely possible Gunn’s reply was simply a genuine compliment toward a performer he enjoyed working with during the audition process.
Still, the fact that he chose to respond to this specific post tying Brittney to Batman, when he usually avoids discussions about DCU casting speculation, has fans wondering if there’s more behind the comment.
For now, the role remains a mystery. The Brave and the Bold doesn’t have a release date yet, but Batman will return in The Batman: Part II on October 1, 2027. Before that, the new DCU continues to take shape with Supergirl, arriving June 26, 2026.
Whether Tom Brittney is actually in the running for the Dark Knight or not, Gunn’s message has certainly reignited excitement around who will become the DCU’s next Batman.
