Robert Pattinson Says His Batman Would Be ‘Tough’ to Fit Into James Gunn’s DCU

Robert Pattinson has publicly addressed the long-standing speculation about whether his version of Batman could crossover into James Gunn’s DC Universe, saying it would be ‘kind of tough’ to take his character outside the world director Matt Reeves has built. In an interview with LADbible, the actor explained that the specific tone and lengthy production process of the Reeves films make it difficult to imagine his Bruce Wayne interacting with the lighter characters of Gunn’s DCU.

Pattinson Explains the Challenge

Pattinson told LADbible, ‘I think it would be kind of tough to have this version of Bruce outside of [Matt Reeves’] world. 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.’ He also described the intense production experience, saying, ‘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; you feel strange afterward.’

The comments, made while promoting his film Primetime, come as Pattinson continues filming The Batman Part II in London. The sequel was recently delayed again and is now scheduled to hit theaters on February 18, 2028.

Two Separate Batman Franchises

DC Studios has maintained that the Reeves Batman films exist in their own separate continuity, often referred to as the ‘Batman Epic Crime Saga.’ James Gunn and Peter Safran have previously stated that Pattinson will not play Batman in the main DCU, and Gunn said in 2025 that it was ‘certainly not the plan’ to bring him into the shared universe. The DCU is developing its own Batman film, The Brave and the Bold, which will introduce a new Bruce Wayne and his son Damian Wayne as Robin.

Latest on The Batman Part II

Production on The Batman Part II is currently underway in London. The sequel was originally set for October 2026, then moved to October 2027, before being delayed again to February 18, 2028. The cast includes returning stars Colin Farrell, Jeffrey Wright, and Andy Serkis, alongside newcomers Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Charles Dance, Brian Tyree Henry, and Sebastian Koch. Sebastian Stan recently compared the experience of filming to ‘The Godfather Part II,’ though he declined to confirm his role, which is widely reported to be Harvey Dent.

Pattinson has described the sequel as ‘a real left turn from the first’ film while retaining elements of its established feel, and he has praised the script as ‘so ambitious.’ Director Matt Reeves shared a new image of Pattinson in costume on Batman Day, September 19, 2026, captioned ‘Happy Batman Day to everyone from London!’

DCU’s Batman Remains Uncast

The DCU’s Batman film, The Brave and the Bold, is still in development. James Gunn has debunked rumors that the screenplay is finished, stating on Threads that it is ‘fiction, sorry. Screenplay isn’t finished.’ No release date has been set, and no actor has been cast as the DCU’s Dark Knight. Gunn has said that many ‘big actors’ have expressed interest in the role, but he is taking his time to find the right tonal approach and does not want to release the film in the same year as The Batman Part II to avoid audience confusion.

For now, Pattinson remains focused on completing The Batman Part II, which is set for release on February 18, 2028. The DCU’s The Brave and the Bold has no confirmed production start or release window.