Robert Pattinson has closed the door on speculation that his version of Batman might eventually cross over into James Gunn’s DC Universe, telling LADbible that folding his brooding Bruce Wayne into Gunn’s brighter world would prove difficult. Speaking alongside “Primetime” co-star Skyler Gisondo, who plays Jimmy Olsen in Gunn’s DCU, Pattinson said the tonal gap between the two Batman incarnations runs deeper than costume changes.
“I think it would be kind of tough to have this version of Bruce outside of that world,” Pattinson said, pointing to the demands of shooting Matt Reeves’ films. He described the production as unusually immersive, requiring long stretches spent almost entirely in darkness. “It’s one of the only characters, I guess, because of the length of the shoots, but also it’s such a specific kind of style; the tone of it gets inside you,” he said, recalling how long it took him to shake the character after his first outing in the role.
The comments arrive as Gunn’s DCU takes a markedly different tack. His 2025 “Superman” leaned into a warmer, more optimistic register than the grim aesthetic Pattinson has cultivated across “The Batman” and its HBO spinoff “The Penguin.” Critics noted the shift at the time; Variety’s Owen Gleiberman described the film as forgoing the somber tone of prior DC efforts in favor of a livelier, emotionally grounded story.
Gunn has expanded that universe rapidly since. He recently wrapped filming on the Superman sequel “Man of Tomorrow,” which joins “Supergirl,” due in 2026, and “Clayface,” premiering Oct. 23, as part of his growing slate. Meanwhile, Reeves’ “The Batman Part II,” which has weathered repeated delays, is now scheduled for Feb. 18, 2028.
Gunn has long maintained that merging Pattinson’s Batman into his interconnected universe was never the plan, with DC Studios instead developing a separate Batman for “The Brave and the Bold” to exist alongside David Corenswet’s Superman. Pattinson’s comments suggest he shares that assessment, even as fans have continued to campaign for a crossover.
