Robert Pattinson says his Batman would be tough to place in James Gunn’s DCU
Robert Pattinson says Matt Reeves’ Batman world is so specific that moving his Bruce Wayne into the DCU would be “kind of tough.”
By Poppy Nakagawa · Culture Writer
2 min read
Robert Pattinson says bringing his Caped Crusader into James Gunn’s shared universe would be a tricky fit. In a LADbible interview, the star behind Matt Reeves’ 2022 film The Batman said the Robert Pattinson Batman DCU question is complicated by how closely he connects the character to Reeves’ particular Gotham.
“I think it would be kind of tough to have this version of Bruce outside of that world,” Pattinson said, according to Variety and Deadline. He was discussing whether his Batman could exist alongside the characters in Gunn’s DC Universe.
Why does Robert Pattinson think his Batman would be hard to put in the DCU?
Pattinson pointed to the lengthy shoots and the distinct style of Reeves’ films. He said the tone of the project gets under his skin, recalling that the experience lingered after he made the first movie.
“You’re just in the dark, the whole time,” he said, describing the feeling in both emotional and literal terms. Pattinson said he could spend months without much light and felt strange afterward.
That is Pattinson’s view of the role and its working environment, not an official announcement from DC Studios that a crossover has been cancelled or ruled out.
Reeves introduced Pattinson as Bruce Wayne in The Batman in 2022. Variety’s review at the time characterized the film as a darker standalone take on the character, while its review of Gunn’s 2025 Superman described that movie differently. Those are critical assessments, rather than a formal statement on how the franchises could or could not connect.
Pattinson made the comments while speaking with LADbible ahead of Primetime, according to Cinema Express. Asked how his Batman might fit beside other DC characters, he joked that he would make them more serious.
For now, the next confirmed stop for Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne is The Batman Part II. Variety and Deadline report that the sequel is scheduled to reach theaters on Feb. 18, 2028.
The remarks clarify Pattinson’s personal sense of the character: for him, Reeves’ shadowy Gotham and this version of Batman go together. They do not settle DC Studios’ longer-term plans.
This story draws on original reporting from Variety.