DC Studios head James Gunn is finally saying the quiet part out loud about the long wait for the new Batman movie. The movie in question, Batman: The Brave and the Bold, will not be landing in theaters until 2028, or possibly even later. That’s a huge delay, considering fans have been waiting years for the DC Universe to give Gotham’s hero a fresh start.
In a post on Threads, Gunn told fans there is no reason to send out the Bat-Signal just yet. He said he’s “dependent on when there’s an actionable script ready,” insisting that the team already has a release plan in place. When questioned about the lack of updates, Gunn added, “We’re well into Batman 2, and I wouldn’t want to cloud the Batsphere until after that.” What does that really mean? It sounds like even DC’s boss doesn’t know exactly when his Batman will arrive.
Some fans accused Gunn of sidelining the Dark Knight, one of the most iconic heroes in entertainment. The director fired back, saying he values both Batman and Wonder Woman but doesn’t want “two Batman movies to come out in the same year.” That statement might sound fair, but it also hints at a deeper issue inside DC Studios—are they stretching projects across too many years to avoid competing with themselves?
Gunn’s approach might make more sense when you realize the creative team behind The Brave and the Bold includes names tied to one of DC’s biggest flops. Director Andy Muschietti and screenwriter Christina Hodson, who worked together on The Flash, are back for this one. That movie was panned by critics and wrecked at the box office, but Gunn called it “one of the best superhero movies I’ve ever seen. Andy Muschietti did an amazing job.” Even Tom Cruise said he “loved” it, so my cynical side is going to have to accept that none of that was genuine praise, and most of it was business. Otherwise, Gunn and Cruise don’t know what a great superhero movie actually is.
Fans will have at least one Batman fix coming before 2028. Matt Reeves’ The Batman Part II, starring Robert Pattinson, won’t hit theaters until October 2027. That project exists outside Gunn and Safran’s new connected DC Universe, which they’ve branded as Chapter One: Gods and Monsters. Still, it explains why DC remains quiet about Muschietti’s movie—the studio doesn’t want to confuse fans by promoting two different Batmen at once.
It should also be noted that Gunn greenlit a horror-style Clayface film, produced by Matt Reeves, with filming wrapped and a 2026 release planned. It draws from Batman: The Animated Series‘s “Feat of Clay” storyline for an actor-turned-monster origin, marking Clayface’s live-action debut in the broader Batman mythos. Rumors also swirled about him in The Batman Part II, but that’s unconfirmed.
Speaking of animation, for those craving classic Batman storytelling. Warner Bros. Animation is working on a new multi-part movie inspired by the 1990s comic arc Batman: Knightfall. The first chapter, titled Batman: Knightfall Part 1: Knightfall, is due in 2026 and will be directed by Jeff Wamester with a script by Jeremy Adams. The story follows the infamous series that saw Bane break Batman’s back, forcing a brutal replacement, Azrael, to take over the mantle. It’s part of DC’s “Elseworlds” label, so even if it stands apart from Gunn’s universe, it still keeps the Bat legend alive on screen.
The real question remains: is James Gunn saving Batman, or stalling his return? After years of missteps, DC can’t afford another box office bomb. But if The Flash is what Gunn calls “great,” maybe fans should brace for another plot twist that doesn’t end well for Gotham’s protector.
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