With Superman potentially being the first hero to kick off the new era at DC Studios, fans are eager to know what’s in store for Batman. Will Robert Pattinson’s portrayal of the Caped Crusader be part of James Gunn’s DC Universe? Is The Brave and the Bold still in the works, and will Andy Muschietti be at the helm? Could Pattinson possibly reprise his role in this film? These are just a few of the many questions surrounding Batman, and we’re hoping to provide some answers.

When James Gunn and Peter Safran took over DC over two years ago, Warner Bros. had just announced a sequel to Matt Reeves’ 2022 hit The Batman. At the time, Gunn and Safran planned to let Reeves continue with his vision, while they would introduce their own Batman in a separate film, The Brave and the Bold. However, nearly three years have passed since the sequel was announced, and after several delays, it’s still roughly three years away from release. The question remains whether DC will wait almost five years to produce its own Batman movie.

Last week, io9 had the opportunity to speak with Gunn and Safran at Warner Bros., and they attempted to clarify the situation. “We have a lot of admiration for Matt Reeves’ vision for The Batman Part II, and we’re eagerly anticipating the film, just like everyone else,” Safran stated. “Although he hasn’t submitted a script yet, what we’ve seen so far is quite promising. On a similar note, we’re actively developing Brave and the Bold, and the story is coming along nicely. We’ll have more updates on that soon.”

Regarding Robert Pattinson’s potential involvement in the DC Universe, Gunn noted, “That’s not the current plan.” Safran added, “We’re fond of him, but we need to introduce a Batman into the DCU, which is crucial. That’s the plan for Brave and the Bold.” Gunn also mentioned that he’s heavily involved in the writing process for the movie.

As for Andy Muschietti, who has been attached to The Brave and the Bold for some time, Gunn and Safran stated that he’s still on board, pending his approval of the script. “We’re currently developing the script, and once it’s ready, we’ll share it with Andy to see if it’s a good fit,” Safran explained.

One character who will definitely be part of the DC Universe is Clayface, with a release scheduled for September 2026. Gunn emphasized the importance of including Clayface in their universe, as it wouldn’t fit with Reeves’ vision. “Clayface needed to be part of the DCU, as it’s an origin story for a classic Batman villain that we want in our world,” Safran said. Gunn added, “He’s quite different from the grounded, non-super meta-human characters in Matt’s world.”

In summary, Matt Reeves’ The Batman Part II is set for release in October 2027 and will not be connected to the DC Universe. The Brave and the Bold is still in development, will feature its own Batman, and will have a less grounded tone than Reeves’ films. Given the current pace, it’s likely that The Brave and the Bold won’t be released until 2028 at the earliest.

For more io9 news, check out the latest updates on Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases. You can also find out what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and get the latest on Doctor Who.