‘None Of Those Things Are What’s Most Important To Me.’ As A Batman Fan, I Love James Gunn’s Take On How He’s Handling The Character’s DCU Film

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It often feels like being a Batman fan means constantly being part of a debate. With two different actors playing Batman in upcoming movies, fans are arguing over every detail – like whether he should have white eyes, a yellow belt, or an oval on his chest. Most of the arguments center around the suit itself. But James Gunn, who’s leading the new DC Universe, thinks all these details aren’t important, and I agree with him.

James Gunn recently discussed his plans for Batman in the upcoming film, *The Brave and the Bold*, during an appearance on the *2 Bears, 1 Cave* podcast (available on YouTube). The director of *Guardians of the Galaxy* explained what aspects of the iconic detective are most important to him as he develops the character.

It’s strange how much of the discussion around Batman focuses on very specific, almost ritualistic details. People get really invested in things like whether his eyes should be white, or if his utility belt and bat symbol should be yellow. It feels a little odd that these are the things people are debating.

You know, it’s so true – we talk about Batman a lot, but usually just about what we *like* on the surface. It’s rare anyone really gets into *why* he connects with us so deeply. It’s not about the suit or the colors, it’s about what Batman *is* – a guy who’s been broken and chooses to fight through the pain, to use it to do something good. And that core idea? That doesn’t change based on how his cowl looks.

And Gunn gets that. He added:

I don’t really care about any of that other stuff. What’s most important to me is the quality of the characters and the story itself, and I think we’ve developed a really strong story arc for Batman right now.

I want the person leading the new DC Universe to really understand what makes Batman work. We’ve seen so many different versions of the Batsuit on film – everything from armored suits to spandex, even the notorious nipple suit! We’ve had dark and gritty Batmans, emotional ones, campy versions, and even LEGO Batman, who is surprisingly great. But the Batman that people truly remember isn’t about the suit itself – it’s about a compelling story.

During the interview, which is available to watch in its entirety below, he also enthusiastically mentions some lesser-known characters like Bat-Mite and Ace the Bat-Hound. It’s clear he has a strong knowledge of obscure character details, and it’s great to listen to.

What stands out most about the director of *The Suicide Squad* is his genuine passion for Batman. While he speaks highly of both Superman and the *Guardians of the Galaxy*, his enthusiasm for the Dark Knight is different – it’s clear he’s eager to work with the character. He doesn’t just mention Batman, he truly appreciates all versions of him, even the more colorful and campy iterations from the 1950s.

The animated series *The Brave and the Bold* really took inspiration from that earlier take on the characters, but still told stories with a lot of emotion and meaning. It’s possible James Gunn’s upcoming version could go for a similar, more upbeat look. If he does, I believe he’ll have good reasons, and as a fan, that’s incredibly exciting to me.

While we don’t have a release date for *The Brave and the Bold* yet, James Gunn says the script is coming along very well. Before that, Batman will return in *The Batman Part II*, a darker take on the character set in DC’s Elseworlds universe, which is scheduled to be released on October 1, 2027.

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2025-09-24 22:24