00:11DC Studios' upcoming Batman movie, The Brave and the Bold, is slowly starting to come together.
00:16While there have been countless rumors over the past few years, most of them have turned
00:21out to be false, with DC Studios sticking to its policy of not moving forward on projects
00:26until they're completely satisfied with the script. Still, we're finally starting to get
00:31a clearer picture of what this new Batman film might look like.
00:35The current plan has director Andy Muschietti, known for the It films and The Flash, helming
00:41the movie, with Christina Hodson writing the screenplay. The original idea was to introduce
00:47Batman alongside his son Damian Wayne as Robin. However, according to James Gunn, those plans
00:53have evolved over time, so it's still unclear exactly which version of Robin or Bat Family
00:59story we'll get. One thing that now seems pretty certain is that there won't be any
01:04merger between the DCU and Matt Reeves' The Batman Universe. For a while, some fans hoped
01:09Robert Pattinson's Batman could somehow become the DCU's Dark Knight, especially with all
01:14the uncertainty surrounding both franchises. But it looks like DC Studios is committed to
01:20keeping Reeves' Batman separate while creating an entirely new Batman for the shared DC Universe.
01:26That might not be a bad thing. Matt Reeves gets to continue telling his darker, grounded Batman
01:32stories, while the DCU can explore a more comic book-inspired version of Gotham,
01:37complete with the Bat Family, larger-than-life villains, and potentially even supernatural elements.
01:43James Gunn, as previously mentioned, is appreciation for the horror side of Batman comics,
01:48and that's sparked a lot of speculation about the direction of the DCU's Batman.
01:53Interestingly, the first DCU project set in Batman's world won't even be a Batman movie. It's
02:00Clayface, which is reportedly leaning heavily into horror. Considering Muschietti's background with
02:06horror films like It, some fans are hoping the brave and the bold will embrace a darker,
02:11more supernatural tone as well. Of course, fans have also had plenty of fun imagining wild what-if
02:18scenarios. One of the biggest fantasies has been bringing back Christian Bale's Batman from the
02:23Dark Knight trilogy and reworking that universe into a more comic book-style setting, complete with
02:29Damian Wayne, supernatural elements, and a larger Bat Family. But realistically, that's almost certainly
02:36never going to happen. Looking ahead, Clayface could end up giving us our first real glimpse at what
02:43Gotham City and Batman's corner of the DCU will actually feel like. There's also speculation that
02:49The Brave and the Bold could focus heavily on Robin's perspective, whether that's Damian Wayne or even
02:55Dick Grayson. Taking that approach could make the movie feel fresh and potentially appeal to a wider
03:00family audience while still delivering the action and emotion Batman fans expect. Now that it's pretty
03:07clear that Robert Pattinson won't be playing the DCU's Batman, DC Studios will have to cast a new Dark
03:14Knight for The Brave and the Bold. The good news is that there are plenty of actors who could step
03:19into
03:20the role. One interesting option is Richard Madden. His time in the MCU as Icarus seemed to be a one
03:27-and-done
03:27appearance after the events of Eternals, and while that's disappointing for Marvel fans, it could open
03:33the door for DC Studios to bring him on board. Madden definitely has the classic Bruce Wayne look,
03:39and it's easy to picture him wearing the cape and cowl. Beyond that, he's an excellent actor who could
03:45bring a confident, commanding presence to Batman. After all, Bruce Wayne is often portrayed as the
03:51smartest person in the room and someone who's always thinking several steps ahead, even secretly
03:56planning for how to take down his fellow heroes if necessary. He also seems like he could convincingly
04:02portray an older, more exhausted Bruce Wayne trying to navigate his complicated relationship with his
04:08son. His performances in Eternals, Game of Thrones, and Bodyguard show that he can handle the darker,
04:15more conflicted side of a character which would fit Batman perfectly. Another actor who has become a
04:21major fan favorite for the DCU's Batman is Brandon Sklenar, and it's not hard to see why. He's a
04:28talented performer who definitely has the look and presence needed to play both Bruce Wayne and the
04:33Dark Knight. Like everyone on this list, he'd be a strong choice for the role, and his work in 1923
04:40has only strengthened that argument. Sklenar's take on Batman would probably feel more in line with the
04:46versions portrayed by Michael Keaton, Christian Bale, and Ben Affleck rather than the younger,
04:52more grounded version played by Robert Pattinson. That could be especially important for the DCU,
04:58since The Brave and the Bold is expected to feature a more experienced Batman who has already spent years
05:03protecting Gotham City and raising a family. The father aspect of the character is particularly
05:09important here, and with the right young actor as Damian Wayne, it's easy to imagine Sklenar portraying a
05:15Batman who acts as a mentor and father figure not just to Damian, but also to characters like Dick
05:21Grayson and Barbara Gordon. Another interesting choice is Taron Egerton. Once a popular fan pick for
05:27Spider-Man, and more recently Wolverine, there's definitely an appeal to seeing him join the DCU as
05:33Batman. The Kingsman the Secret Service star has consistently proven himself to be a versatile
05:39and talented actor, whether through films like Rocket Man, the acclaimed series Blackbird, or Netflix's
05:45hit thriller Carry On. He's also experienced with action roles, which is obviously a major advantage
05:51when it comes to playing Batman. While Egerton and Pattinson are both British actors, they bring very
05:57different styles to their performances. If cast, Egerton would likely deliver a version of Batman that feels
06:04distinct from Pattinson's portrayal and could potentially give fans one of the most comic
06:08accurate versions of the Dark Knight the DCU has offered so far. Another strong contender is Luke
06:15Evans. Despite having a long and successful career, it's surprising that he hasn't joined either Marvel
06:21or DC yet. The DCU's fresh start could be the perfect opportunity to finally bring him into the superhero world.
06:28Evans could play a rougher, more hardened version of Batman,
06:32Batman, someone who has spent years fighting crime and isn't afraid to get his hands dirty.
06:36At the same time, it would be interesting to watch that tougher exterior gradually soften
06:41as Bruce develops into the caring father that Damian Wayne needs. Looking ahead, it's also pretty easy
06:48to imagine Evans sharing the screen with Superman and the rest of the Justice League. Given his talent
06:53and versatility, there's no shortage of directions he could take the DCU's Dark Knight.
06:59Another fascinating choice is Winston Duke. While he's been a memorable presence as M'Baku in the MCU,
07:07many fans feel he deserves an even bigger spotlight and Batman could provide exactly that opportunity.
07:13Unlike many of the other actors being discussed, Duke already has experience playing the Caped Crusader,
07:19having voiced Batman in the podcast series Batman Unburied, where he received a lot of praise for his
07:25performance. A black Bruce Wayne would also offer a fresh and exciting take on the character while
07:31opening the door for a new interpretation of the Bat family. If anyone still has doubts, performances in
07:37Nine Days and Us show just how much range Duke brings as an actor. And finally, perhaps the most in
07:44-demand
07:45fan casting of them all, Jensen Ackles. After making appearances in Smallville, Ackles went on to star in
07:52Supernatural for an incredible 15 seasons, becoming synonymous with Dean Winchester. In recent years,
07:59however, he's been working to show audiences and Hollywood alike that he has much more to offer.
08:05Roles in The Boys and Countdown have helped highlight his range and reminded many fans that he's been an
08:11underrated talent for quite some time. Ackles has also been very open about his desire to play Batman.
08:17While he's already portrayed the Dark Knight in several animated projects, including Batman The Long
08:23Halloween, making the jump to live action feels like a natural next step. This would undoubtedly be
08:29one of those fan-favorite casting choices that instantly excites audiences, and the DCU could certainly
08:35benefit from that kind of enthusiasm. DC Studios doesn't necessarily need to focus exclusively on
08:42massive A-list stars, something already demonstrated by the casting of David Cornswit as Superman.
08:48Ackles has the look, the voice, the acting ability and the passion for the character to make a compelling
08:54Batman on the big screen, and many fans are hoping that James Gunn and Peter Safran see that potential as
09:00well.
09:01And that's the list! Let me know which actor you'd most like to see play Batman in the DCU's The
09:07Brave
09:07and the Bold. And don't forget to subscribe, because we'll be covering more DC updates and casting news
09:13in the future. See you next time!
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