Robert Pattinson should be the DCU’s Batman and this is why

After The Batman and (hopefully) Superman, Robert Pattinson and David Corenswet may be the World’s Finest versions of their characters – why shouldn’t they get to team up in the DCU?

Pattinson’s caped crusader occupies a singular, nasty region of Gunn’s DC Universe, with The Batman, The Penguin, and its other Gotham-set projects categorized as Elseworlds projects – in other words, they aren’t part of the main continuity, a bit like how X-Men ’97 isn’t in the MCU timeline.

At first, this seemed like a brilliant call from Gunn and Peter Safran. It preserves an acclaimed, beloved, and – perhaps most importantly – nascent corner of DC on the big screen while they build out a rebooted cinematic empire, complete with a new Man of Steel and another Batman.

Except… that last part isn’t that appealing, plus Warner Bros CEO David Zaslav earlier assured, “There’s not going to be four Batmans.” It’s time to stop messing around: declare Pattinson as the DCU’s Batman.

The DCU needs Robert Pattinson’s Batman

When Gunn unveiled the first “Gods and Monsters” phase of the DCU, it included The Brave and the Bold, a movie directed by Andy Muschietti that would introduce the franchise’s new Batman. He also insisted that Pattinson and Matt Reeves’ The Batman universe would continue separately from the DCU.

Gunn has also fended off speculation that he’d pinch Pattinson to be his new Batman. “It’s certainly not the plan,” he said earlier this year.

Here’s the thing: there haven’t been many, if any positive updates about The Brave and the Bold. In December last year, it was reportedly postponed, and Gunn has barely spoken about its development.

Rather conspicuously, progress on The Batman 2 has also been very slow. Reports have suggested Reeves may have been dealing with personal issues, which is (obviously) excusable. However, it’s tempting to draw a line between the sequel’s several delays and the DCU’s reluctance on Batman.

Naysayers will argue that the world of The Batman (and especially The Penguin) doesn’t gel with the DCU. Considering we’ve only seen Metropolis (and Pokolistan in Creature Commandos), they have a point; the former is shadowy, brutal, and vastly different in style, while the DCU is bright, colorful, and populated by aliens and metahumans.

But… isn’t that the point of bringing Batman and Superman together? Day and night, god and man, two worlds forced to merge for the greater good; their differences aren’t a problem, it’d just make a crossover more dynamic. Imagine it now: Corenswet’s quipping, hopeful Man of Steel submerged in the perpetual rains of Gotham, and Pattinson’s husky hero in the sun-scorched skyscapes of a faraway city.

Matt Reeves’ verdict on Pattinson’s Batman in the DCU

Warner Bros.

Plus, Reeves doesn’t seem entirely unopposed to the idea. “It really comes down to whether or not it makes sense,” he told MTV News.

“What’s been great is there is a story that I wanted to tell we’re calling the Epic Crime Saga, which is the thrust of what we want to do. And it’s been important to me to be able to play that out.

“What the future brings, I can’t really tell you. I have no idea right now, except that my head is down now about getting The Batman: Part II shooting and to make it something really special, which is, of course, the most important thing.”