James Gunn confirms new Batman actor for DC Universe

If there were any doubts about whether a new Batman will be introduced in the DCU, James Gunn has confirmed he will be bringing in a new actor to play Batman.

It’s a strange time to be a DC fan as there is so much change going on with DC Studios and its slate of current movies and shows.

With the changing of the guard, James Gunn and Peter Safran have been working to lay the groundwork for the new DC Universe (DCU). This has entailed a number of things including the cancellation of a multitude of current and previously announced DC projects and bringing the end of current franchises.

Then there is the layer of trying to keep track of which actors DC is parting ways with and which actors DC is looking to find a way to welcome into the new DCU. At first seemed as though DC would be cleaning house entirely after parting ways with the likes of Dwayne Johnson and Henry Cavill, to name a few. But then the studio heads started making hints that there would be some actors who would make the leap from the DCEU to the DCU.

Suddenly there were all these questions about who might stick around especially when it came to some of the casting moves made in The Flash. 

Is George Clooney the new Batman?

Prior to the release of The Flash, it was rumored that DC would use the film to introduce a familiar face in the role of Batman with the plan being for said actor to play a larger role after their appearance. So when George Clooney popped up at the end of the movie as Bruce Wayne, fans began to question whether Clooney was the new Batman.

While it was fun to see Clooney back in the role, sans Batsuit, it has been confirmed by James Gunn that Clooney is not going to be his DCU Batman.

“He is not,” Gunn remarked to a fan when asked on Threads about whether Clooney was the new DCU Batman. The short and sweet response again confirmed what many have suspected in that DC is looking for a new Batman — one a bit younger than Clooney.

Has DC announced who will play the new Batman?

While DC has been hard at work in putting together the pieces for the new DCU casting a new Superman, Lois Lane, Hawkgirl, Green Lantern, and Mr. Terrifc, DC Studios has not yet announced who will be playing the new Batman. As disappointing as that might be, it’s not too shocking.

At the moment, DC Studios is working to finalize the cast of Superman: Legacy so it’s likely we won’t hear anything about Batman: The Brave and the Bold in the coming months. The fact that the writers’ and actors’ unions are both on strike, also hints it might be some time before any announcement is made by the studios

What we do know is that DC is looking for someone slightly older than its new Superman. Given David Corenswet is 30 years old, we imagine DC will be casting an actor in the 35-40 range when the time does come to bring the new Caped Crusader into the mix.