It seems DCU is still hoping to tap a former Batman star & if the rumor pans out, it could either be Christian Bale‘s Dark Knight or George Clooney‘s Batman. Apparently, the answer lies in the ending of The Flash movie set to release on June 16.
Among the list of DCU titles in Chapter 1, there has been more curiosity surrounding the casting for Brave and the Bold – since it would introduce a new version of Batman that will exist alongside the Elseworld/Reevesverse’s Battinson. Fans have been keen on uncovering the possible candidates in contention for the role as it remains unclear if Gunn’s Gotham vigilante would be an older veteran similar to Ben Affleck‘s Batman or younger.
Going by the latest rumor mill from movie pundit Grace Randolph, ( A scooper who has published reliable reports from time to time) DC Studios has approached another former Batman to cameo in The Flash.
It was earlier reported by the same insider that The Flash ending, which featured DCEU’s trinity and Michael Keaton‘s Dark Knight was removed. Now, it seems James Gunn & Peter Safran may have approached one of the former Batman iteration stars, one of them being Christian Bale’s Batman in Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight franchise and Clooney’s Batman.
The older Batman would be Damian’s dad so it was expected the DCU would cast a middle-aged actor unlike their plans to rope in a younger Man of Steel for Superman: Legacy. In fact, James Gunn’s Batman feature is expected to showcase others like Nightwing from the Bat family.
The rumor has gone viral with many hoping for DC Studios to sign on Christian Bale. But some insiders have cryptically hinted it could be George Clooney’s Batman. Even if true, it’s unlikely to be a continuation of their earlier storyline. But fans have had a lot to say, as seen in reactions below.
#DC #DCStudios ⚡️
I hear that it’s going to be a former #Batman who cameos at the end of #TheFlash
& could potentially stick around as the new permanent #DCU Batman
Damian’s dad, Pattinson is still solo
I know who it is; but it would be uncool to reveal the whole thing pic.twitter.com/wuEzl4RPWY
— Grace Randolph (@GraceRandolph) February 10, 2023
— SyL ☕ #SylAbdulDaily (@sylabdul) February 10, 2023
Why would Gunn like to have George Clooney as the DCU Batman? Makes no sense. The dude is almost 62. pic.twitter.com/y1kMdhx2mH
— Home of DCU (@homeofdcu) February 10, 2023
If this is actually true, could you imagine Christopher Nolan directing THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD? Christian Bale did say he'd only return if Nolan did… https://t.co/j9QjZ8xTsF
— Film Odyssey (@FilmOdysseyMCU) February 10, 2023
Christian Bale when asked to return as Batman in the DCU: https://t.co/MWXchUVSZ4 pic.twitter.com/P7oWR0EFpv
— Matt Murdock (@ZeroYear97) February 10, 2023
I actually REALLY hope the cameo at The Flash is George Clooney because he definitely deserve a Batman redemption pic.twitter.com/BomB3wIRnw
— sabrina 🦇 (@nightwaynes) February 10, 2023
I don’t care if an old Batman cameos at the end of The Flash, that’ll be sweet.
But if THAT Batman ends up being the main DCU Batman, they’ve failed before they even begin and I don’t see James Gunn doing that.
— Block A the Conqueror ⏳ (@conquercomics) February 10, 2023
I would be extremely happy to see Christian Bale appear as Batman once again in The Flash but god please don’t bring him or any of these 3 back to play the character permanently in the DCU
RECAST! you want to build a new universe so badly, this is not the way to do it!! pic.twitter.com/OpzhV7h9y6
— Craig (@CS11__) February 10, 2023
Val Kilmer is sick
George Clooney deeply regrets being Batman and is immensely rich now.
Christian Bale has had a few duds at the box-office and thought Thor L&T was a good script.
Could really be Christian Bale and that’s crazy to me. https://t.co/gZoLPflYyP
— Hector Navarro (@imhectornavarro) February 10, 2023
HAHAHA IF CHRISTIAN BALE IS DCU BATMAN THATS GONNA BE WILD
— AJ | 🏳️🌈 | Barbie Era | (@AjepArts) February 10, 2023
Holy shit there’s absolutely no way James Gunn managed to get Christian Bale back as Batman right? RIGHT?!?!👀👀 pic.twitter.com/zyWoDrX89E
— Mr. Wayne🦇 (@ArkhamNumb) February 10, 2023
I do not believe Christian Bale is coming back as Batman but I truly hope he does because that would be extremely cool.
— Film Odyssey (@FilmOdysseyMCU) February 10, 2023
I am not buying into this… but if Christian Bale does come back (I am highly skeptical), and anyone complains, you get put into timeout :p
If it is Clooney, I give up lol.
— Rational DC Fan (@DcRational) February 10, 2023
It should be noted that Bale has expressed his desire to return as the Dark Knight but only with Nolan in the directorial seat. However, the auteur filmmaker drifted ways with Warner Bros. film after their 2021 strategy to release movies in theaters and streaming simultaneously. Moreover, James Gunn has also clarified that DC Studios would also be faced with hard decisions if directors’ creative plans don’t align with their roadmap. It’s hard to see a visionary like Nolan working under another director so Clooney is the easier route to negotiate a deal.
Brave and the Bold does not have a release date attached yet so it’s still far from going into development. But if the rumor is true, it’s sure to be unpacked during the press junket for The Flash.
