As DC Studios pushes ahead with its bold new slate, one recurring question has lingered among fans: Will general audiences get confused by having multiple versions of Batman on screen at the same time?
With Matt Reeves‘ ‘The Batman: Part II’ moving forward alongside the DCU’s upcoming ‘The Brave and the Bold’, some assumed DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn might worry about audience overlap or brand fatigue.
James Gunn Defends Dual Batman Strategy
Speaking on the Phase Zero podcast, Gunn addressed concerns head-on and didn’t hold back while explaining why the supposed “confusion” is more of a fan problem than a public one. “Sometimes I think about it. But is it causing anybody grief in any way? People are really starting to learn about stuff like that,” Gunn said. The real issue, he explained, isn’t with casual viewers; it’s with hardcore fans who underestimate them.
Related: James Gunn’s Script Tease Hints At Brainiac As The Main Villain In ‘Man Of Tomorrow’
“One of the weirdest things for me is that big fans are like, ‘I understand this, but normies will never understand this.’ But the truth is, guys, you’re the ones who don’t understand. The casuals always understand.” Gunn pointed out that everyday viewers aren’t tangled up in continuity discourse the way fandom circles can be. For most people, it’s simple: if it’s a good movie, they’ll watch it, no timeline charts needed.
He even highlighted how relaxed audiences were about the shifting continuity in ‘Peacemaker’, where the Justice League subtly became “Justice Gang” across universes. Regular viewers weren’t bothered; they just accepted it and moved on. That flexibility is exactly why Gunn feels confident launching a second live-action Batman while Robert Pattinson’s continues in its own universe. Under his strategy.
Pattinson’s Batman remains grounded, noir-driven, and separate under Matt Reeves. The DCU’s Batman in ‘The Brave and the Bold’ will be older and already juggling a Bat-Family. Moreover, to Gunn, this is not a clash; it’s a gift. DC has done this before with ease, he reminds us. The Arrowverse and DCEU coexisted for years with multiple Flashes and Supermen simultaneously. “People in our bubble think everyone outside the bubble is too stupid to understand nuance. It’s just totally not the case.”
James Gunn Stays Cryptic On Brainiac Being ‘Man Of Tomorrow’s Main Villain
While excitement builds around Batman’s dual live-action run, James Gunn is also busy shaping Superman’s future. Following the success of ‘Superman’, starring David Corenswet, a sequel, titled ‘Man of Tomorrow’, is already in motion, with Gunn having completed the script. Naturally, fans zeroed in on one theory: Is this finally the movie that introduces Brainiac?
In case you missed it: James Gunn Explains Why He Changed Superman’s Parents’ Legacy In His DC Reboot
A script cover Gunn posted earlier this year sparked the rumor mill into overdrive. But when asked directly by Entertainment Weekly, he played coy. “Of course, I wasn’t unaware that when I posted the cover of the script, there was going to be discussion around that topic. But I think we’ll hold off on what exactly is happening.” He didn’t confirm Brainiac, but he didn’t deny it either, and that silence speaks volumes.
What Gunn did confirm, however, is that Superman won’t be facing the new threat alone. Interestingly, Lex Luthor will return and share the spotlight. “It’s a story about Lex Luthor and Superman having to work together to a certain degree against a much, much bigger threat. It’s as much a Lex movie as it is a Superman movie.” That line alone has fans buzzing. A Superman–Lex alliance is a rare dynamic in live-action storytelling, and Gunn seems energized by it.
“I loved working with Nicholas Hoult, I relate to the character of Lex, sadly. I really wanted to create something extraordinary with the two of them, I just love the script so much.” While no villain has been confirmed, Gunn’s comments make it clear this won’t be a standard hero-vs-villain sequel. Whoever the antagonist is, they’re big enough to make Lex Luthor and Superman join forces, and that raises the stakes dramatically.
