Reacher's Alan Ritchson is a fan-favorite to play the DCU's Batman, but there are many other actors who'd also be perfect for the role.

James Gunn has once again confirmed that the DCU Batman won't be Robert Pattinson – and I'm still disappointed. "We've talked about it before, but it's not what's happening right now," Gunn told Entertainment Tonight. "Everything's in flux, so we'll figure out what we're doing next."

James Gunn recently addressed the growing fan speculation surrounding Alan Ritchson as a potential candidate for the DCU ’s Batman. In a new interview, he commented on the casting rumors, shared his personal view of Ritchson, and offered a measured response that sparked further interest in the Reacher star’s connection to the role.

But James Gunn, as of now, has remained adamant that Pattinson won't be The Dark Knight in the DCU. He reaffirmed it again in an Entertainment Tonight interview from July 28, 2025. When the reporter asked Gunn about the possibility of Robert Pattinson playing the Caped Crusader in the DCU, the filmmaker responded:

James Gunn shares his reaction to Matt Reeves' The Batman 2 script and addresses the DCU debut of the Dark Knight.

James Gunn recently shut down rumors once again about Robert Pattinson’s Batman joining the main DC Universe. As the director of Superman and co-CEO of DC Studios, Gunn made it pretty clear: “I’ve said it before.