Robert Pattinson has trouble imagining a universe where his Batman and James Gunn’s Superman could co-exist, casting doubt on a potential crossover.
Speaking with LADbible, Pattinson stated that he thinks it would be difficult to pluck his take on a dark, grounded Batman and drop him in James Gunn’s lighter, more fantastical DC universe.
“I think it would be kind of tough to have this version of Bruce outside of that world,” he said. “It’s one of the only characters, I guess because of the length of the shoots, but also it’s such a specific kind of [style], the tone of it gets inside you. I remember that happened to me the last time I did it, it took a while. You’re just in the dark, the whole time. Both mood-wise and light-wise, I can’t see anything for like months. It does affect you, like you feel strange afterwards.”
Fans have been somewhat split for a while now over whether Pattinson should also play Batman in Gunn’s main DC universe, or if he should remain relegated to his own separate part of the multiverse, and it seems like Pattinson believes the latter makes the most sense. James Gunn himself has said that they’re developing a Batman film that will follow an older Bruce Wayne, with Damian Wayne as his sidekick.
There have been very few updates about that film, with some believing DC may wait for Matt Reeves to conclude his story before introducing another Batman in order to avoid confusing audiences. Of course, plans could change at any minute, and they could choose to leverage Pattinson’s Batman in the DCU. Despite the major difference in tone between The Batman and Gunn’s Superman, the current DCU does have some darker stories on offer.
Lanterns is proof that a grounded and more mature story can still easily fit into the larger DCU. Next month, we’ll also get Clayface, which is set to be an R-rated body horror film set in the same universe as Superman, Lanterns, and Supergirl. There’s room for a bit of everything, and some think that the strong contrast between Pattinson’s Batman and David Corenswet’s Superman could provide for a charming take on World’s Finest.
Maybe one day it will all happen, but if Pattinson’s comments are anything to go by, it won’t be anytime soon. The Batman Part 2 hits theaters on February 18, 2027. Man of Tomorrow, the sequel to Superman, will fly into theaters on July 9, 2027.
