Summary
James Gunn’s version of theDCUis about to get underway with the release ofSuperman, but fans are still wondering whether DC’s other central character,Batman, will end up making his presence known at some point. While the Dark Knight isn’t going to appear in this movie, fans of this world are hoping to see the iconic superhero get his film added to the wider DCU and be involved moving forward.
Gunn has made interesting comments about Robert Pattinson’s version of Batman, who many fans initially thought would be involved in this franchise, which has led to people thinking that he won’t be involved. However, Gunn has now given people an idea of how he would use Batman in the DCU, which has got people conflicted.
What Version Of Batman Does James Gunn Want To Use?
A Serious Version Of Batman Is Always The Most Interesting Way To Use Him
One of the reasons why Batman has become such a popular character over the years is the fact that the character can betaken in two drastically different directions. Batman can be campy and almost comedic with the way he’s presented, being shown in a manner that’s so over-the-top that audiences simply have to lean in to enjoy the madness. Yet, on the flip side, Batman can become very serious and dark, which best suits his overall aesthetic. Interestingly, when speaking toRolling Stone, Gunn made it clear that is the version of the character that he prefers as well.
“But yet he’s not a campy Batman. I’m not interested in that. I’m not interested in a funny, campy Batman, really. So we’re dealing with that. I think I have a way in, by the way. I think I really know what it’s, I just am dealing with the writer to make sure that we can make it a reality.”
While themore cartoonish version of Batmancertainly has fans and can serve a purpose, the darker, moodier, more serious tone always suits the character best.There’s a reason why Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy performed so well, and it’s because of the way the character is presented, both as Batman and Bruce Wayne. Seeing him hide in the shadows and add a level of aggression to his fight scenes is the way forward, mainly due to the trauma that Wayne suffers early on in his life. Audiences tend to prefer the more serious and adult-oriented version of Batman, and given that Gunn also feels that way, it seems more likely that is how he will be presented if he ever joins the franchise.
Batman Being Darker Is A Positive Move, But It Will Hurt The Overall Tone Of The DCU If He’s Introduced
Superman Is Being Teased As A More Light-Hearted And Comedic Character
Gunn has made it clear with his comments that if he is going to introduce Batman moving forward, then it will be in a serious manner where the character is locked in and dealing with some darkness. While the idea sounds great, it seems like it will cause a problem for the DCU overall because Gunn appears to be setting up a much lighter tone withSuperman. While the movie is yet to be released, plenty of comedy is in the trailer and teaser footage, giving fans an idea of what to expect from the franchise moving forward. It has reached the point where fans are worriedSuperman will be too similar to Star-Lordbased on Gunn’s previous work, and given that this is the first film being released, it will set the tone for what people expect moving forward. If that includes elements of humor, then having Batman appear darkly and mysteriously will instantly cause confusion.
While not every single film in the DCU needs to be the same, it is essential to provide some unity.If Gunn wants the movies to overlap and appeal to the same audience as the Marvel Cinematic Universe, then the tone must match. The MCU has some films that are more serious than others, but fans go into all of them understanding that there will be jokes and moments of lightheartedness, which has made it appeal to younger audiences successfully. Gunn appears to be taking DC down the same route, buthis idea for Batmandoesn’t complement that and will cause problems overall.
Batman Is An Important Character For James Gunn To Get Right
Not Including Batman In The DCU Would Be A Serious Mistake
Ultimately, the DCU will never feel complete until Batman is introduced due to his popularity, and if Gunn wants tocompete with Marvel Studios, having him involved will also be crucial. Whether it’s Pattinson’s darker version of the character or a campier presentation, it’s essential that Gunn gets Batman right and presents the character in a manner that will be entertaining to audiences and provide a box office success for DC at the same time.A poorBatmanmovie could cause more damage than good to the franchise simply because it would lead to people giving up on the broader set of movies if one of the biggest superheroes isn’t presented properly.
There are no current plans for a Batman movie to beplaced in the DCU, even thoughThe Batman Part IIis an obvious way to make that happen. Not including the iconic superhero at some stage soon would be a mistake because he’s a character that audiences are going to naturally want to see involved. However, the expectation that Gunn will end up using a dark version ofBatmanmight end up being problematic for the DCU, regardless of the movie’s overall quality, which is a larger concern.
