‘I Gotta Be Careful.’ How Mike Flanagan Would Feel About Robert Pattinson’s Batman Joining The DCU

by

Superhero movies and shows remain incredibly popular, and recently, James Gunn has been building a fresh DC Universe. This new DCU will be available on HBO Max, but the world created by Matt Reeves’ The Batman will exist separately. Director Mike Flanagan has hinted that Robert Pattinson, who plays Batman, might eventually appear in this larger shared universe.

Details about The Batman Part II are scarce, given its projected release date of 2027. There’s a lot of excitement building for the sequel, and also for a potential Clayface movie written by Mike Flanagan. Flanagan, known for Midnight Mass, recently spoke at Motor City Comic Con (according to ScreenRant) about the possibility of Matt Reeves’ Batman films becoming officially connected to the larger DC Universe. He shared his thoughts on how that might happen, saying:

I need to be cautious when talking about DC projects. DC fans are passionate, and I don’t want to upset anyone, especially with James Gunn now leading the creative direction – which I think is fantastic. I’m not sure what his overall plan is, but I know Matt Reeves is incredibly talented. Robert Pattinson’s performance as Batman was particularly strong.

He has a point. Matt Reeves presented a unique vision of Gotham City in The Batman, and that world was further explored in the Emmy-winning series The Penguin. While there’s plenty of creative energy and new ideas, it’s uncertain whether this particular take on Batman will continue within the new DC Universe.

Mike Flanagan knows DC fans are very dedicated, so he was careful when talking about whether Robert Pattinson’s Batman could appear in the main DC Universe. His upcoming Clayface movie is planned to fit into that larger universe, even though it will be a scary, R-rated film.

HBO Max offers streaming access to DC Comics content like The Batman, along with thousands of movies, shows, and documentaries. Plans begin at $10.99 per month for the Basic With Ads option. See the deal here.

Although Mike Flanagan won’t be the director of the Clayface project, fans are excited he’s involved with it, especially since it will take place within the DC Universe. He also discussed the potential for The Batman to become part of this larger shared universe, saying:

I really love the world James Gunn has created for Gotham. I think The Penguin character translates well to both film and TV. I believe there’s potential to seamlessly integrate all these different versions into a cohesive DC Universe, and that’s what James is aiming for. As a fan, I have a lot of trust in his vision, and he hasn’t disappointed me yet. I’m eager to see how everything comes together and how it all connects – it’s up to them to make it happen.

He’s right to be excited. James Gunn has consistently proven he’s a gifted storyteller when adapting comic books for film. He first gained recognition for his work on the popular Guardians of the Galaxy movies (available on Disney+), and continued to impress with The Suicide Squad and the horror take on superheroes in Brightburn. Now, he’s leading the entire DC Universe, and will personally write and direct projects like Creature Commandos, Superman, and Season 2 of Peacemaker.

The next Batman movie is scheduled for release on October 1st, 2027, meaning fans have a bit of a wait ahead. Another film featuring the character Clayface is expected to come out on September 11th, 2026.

Read More

2025-11-19 01:40