Robert Pattinson Is Not the DCU Batman—And That’s Actually Great News

Alright, fellow caped crusaders, let’s take a deep breath and process this together—Robert Pattinson is officially not going to be the DC Universe’s (DCU) main Batman. Yes, that’s right. The brooding, eyeliner-wearing, Nirvana-playing Bat-boy of Gotham from The Batman (2022) will remain in his own little Bat-verse, while James Gunn’s DCU will bring in a brand-new actor for Batman: The Brave and the Bold.

Now, if you just spilled your Bat-coffee, I get it. But let’s talk about why this might actually be the best decision ever.

One Batman to Rule Them All? Nah, Let’s Have Two!First off, let’s address the elephant—or should I say, Batmobile—in the room. Many of us loved Pattinson’s take on the Dark Knight. The dude spent half the movie scowling and whispering like he was in a never-ending emo music video, and honestly? We ate it up. The Batman was a gritty, detective-style noir that gave us a different side of Gotham, one drenched in rain and existential dread.

But let’s be real—his Batman wouldn’t fit in the larger-than-life world of the DCU. James Gunn is planning a universe with aliens, metahumans, and, well, whatever the heck Peacemaker is. Can you really see Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne standing next to a wisecracking Green Lantern or dealing with a time-traveling Flash? Yeah, neither can I.

So, having two separate Batmen—one in Matt Reeves’ grounded Gotham and another in the high-flying DCU—makes perfect sense. It keeps the The Batman sequel safe from the mess of universe-building while letting DCU create its own Bat-legacy.

The DCU Batman Needs a Different VibeLet’s not forget—the upcoming Batman: The Brave and the Bold isn’t just about Bruce Wayne. It’s introducing Damian Wayne—aka Bruce’s sword-wielding, slightly murderous son. That alone changes the whole tone. This isn’t going to be another broody solo Batman movie where he cries over his parents in the rain (we’ve seen enough pearls hit the ground, thank you). This is going to be a full-on Bat-Family story.

And let’s be honest—Pattinson’s Batman? That dude barely seems emotionally equipped to have a pet, let alone raise a ninja assassin kid. We need a Bruce Wayne who feels like an actual father figure. Someone with that mix of battle-hardened experience and exasperated dad energy, like, “Damian, put the sword down, we don’t stab the Justice League.” Pattinson’s Batman is still figuring himself out—he’s not ready for PTA meetings at Wayne Manor.

Who Should Be the DCU Batman?Okay, since we’re getting a new Batman, who should wear the cowl? Fan casting is a dangerous game (remember when people lost their minds over Pattinson?), but hey, let’s have some fun.

Some people are throwing around names like Jensen Ackles, because he’s been voicing Batman in animated movies, and let’s be real, the man was basically Bruce Wayne in Supernatural. Others are hoping for Jake Gyllenhaal (because we’re still trying to make up for Spider-Man: Far From Home). Heck, maybe DC will surprise us with a wild card—someone like Alan Ritchson, who already looks like he was built in the Batcave.

Whoever it is, they need to bring something different to the table. We’ve had the serious Bale Batman, the I’ll-literally-kill-you Affleck Batman, and the moody Pattinson Batman. This new guy? He needs to be a mentor, a leader, and a dude who can handle Damian’s teenage rebellion without losing his mind.

Final Thoughts—Why This News Actually RocksSo, should we be mad that Pattinson isn’t the DCU Batman? Nope. If anything, we should be relieved. This means The Batman and its sequels can stay true to Matt Reeves’ vision without interference. Meanwhile, the DCU can finally create a Batman who actually fits into a shared universe, without awkwardly trying to mash two different tones together.

At the end of the day, more Batman is never a bad thing. We get to have our cake and eat it too—one dark and broody Bat-detective for serious cinema, and one Bat-dad dealing with his ninja son in the DCU.

So, Bat-fans, let’s sit back, grab our popcorn, and get ready for double the Bat-action. Because no matter who wears the cowl, Gotham will always need its Dark Knight.

What do you think? Who should be the DCU Batman? Drop your dream castings in the comments and let’s geek out together!