The biggest question facing James Gunn’s DCU right now isn’t just who will don the cape and cowl for The Brave and the Bold—it’s who will embody Batman across multiple major projects, including upcoming adaptations of The Killing Joke and The Long Halloween.
Alan Ritchson and the Fan Campaign
One of the most persistent fan campaigns centers on Reacher star Alan Ritchson. His name has been at the top of casting wishlists for The Brave and the Bold, and now speculation has expanded—could he carry the role into darker, more stylized projects like The Killing Joke and The Long Halloween?
James Gunn recently addressed the rumors on the Happy Sad Confused podcast. When asked about Ritchson, Gunn admitted he’s a fan of the actor and knows the internet chatter well. While stopping short of confirming anything, Gunn acknowledged that Batman casting is one of the most important steps in building the DCU.
Ritchson hasn’t been shy either. In multiple interviews, he’s openly campaigned for the role, even trying out his Batman voice and saying he wouldn’t need to be paid to play Bruce Wayne. At 6’3” with an imposing frame, he fits the physical mold. He also brings DC experience, having previously played Aquaman on Smallville and Hawk in Titans.
Batman Across Different Stories
Casting Bruce Wayne in The Brave and the Bold carries specific narrative weight: this version of Batman will be an older, battle-worn father to Damian Wayne. But the stakes are even higher when considering how the same actor could carry into The Killing Joke—where the relationship with the Joker takes center stage—and The Long Halloween, a noir-driven detective story that leans into Batman’s cerebral side.
If Gunn wants consistency across these projects, the casting choice will need to balance physicality, emotional depth, and longevity. An actor like Ritchson could bring the brute strength needed for Brave and the Bold, but can he also handle the psychological torment of The Killing Joke or the slow-burn mystery of The Long Halloween?
Avoiding Confusion with Pattinson’s Batman
Complicating matters is Matt Reeves’ separate Bat-verse. Robert Pattinson will continue as Gotham’s Dark Knight in The Batman Part II and beyond. Gunn has said the studio will avoid overlap—meaning we’re unlikely to see Pattinson and the DCU Batman sharing release dates in the same year. Still, with Brave and the Bold expected around 2027 and Reeves’ sequel landing the same year, audiences could see two very different takes on the character within months.
Gunn insists the distinction will come from story material rather than performance. The Brave and the Bold will be grounded in DCU continuity, while The Killing Joke and The Long Halloween offer opportunities for darker, prestige-style storytelling.
The Road Ahead
The next Batman reveal won’t just be about one movie. Whoever lands the part could define the Dark Knight for a generation of DCU storytelling—stretching from father-son dynamics in The Brave and the Bold to the psychological battles of The Killing Joke and the detective noir of The Long Halloween.
Alan Ritchson may have the fan momentum, but Gunn is playing his cards close to the chest. Until an official announcement drops, the casting conversation will remain one of the most debated topics in superhero cinema.
