I'm Reading Your Stuff: General News and Discussion Thread

[TheSmoothKnight]

Jeff Sneider has heard that there’s conflict between James Gunn and Matt Reeves. Gunn wants Robert Pattinson to join the DCU (Pattinson is apparently interested) but Reeves has so far refused to sign off on that.

Reeves may be given a contract adjustment that gives him more say on how the Batman characters are used in the DCU.

From Gunn’s point of view (IF true), I understand why he would want Reeves and Rob to merge everything over. I mean Reeves is already producing DCU stuff anyways. Not saying I want that to happen but I would understand IF it does.

Anyways, I’m just glad that DC finally has positive momentum with the success of The Penguin series , Creature Commando is well received and the Superman trailer is breaking DC/WB records in views. Outside of The Batman , there has been so much negativity surrounding DC/WB.

 

[Black Narcissus]

Jeff Sneider drove himself into a tree before getting fired. If I were a gambler, which I am, I don’t put any money on him. Lawd.

 

[solidsnake86]

If it were to happen I think it's more a product of time and success of the batman and superman along with the downward trend of superhero films.

Reeves will have had the luxury of potentially watching Gunn's Superman movie now and understanding his vision versus almost two years ago when it was effectively just a pitch with not one frame of film in the can. He saw what the dceu was and likely said, no thank you, I'm doing my own thing. With the dcu, he's seen nothing.

They also don't need to make a decision on this for another 2 years. So they have a luxury of seeing what superman does audience wise and box office wise.

 

[The Lazarus Pit]

I really want them to incorporate Pattinson’s Batman in the DCU. I think two Batmen at the same time is a horrible idea, especially when this version is so good. Reeves takes so long to make these movies, and I want more Batman now, it doesn’t have to be only under Reeves for me to enjoy Pattinson’s Batman.

A James Gunn Worlds Finest movie with Corenswet and Pattinson sounds pretty awesome to me.

 

[Arachnerd]

On one hand, I perfectly understand why people would want Battinson in the DCU. On the other hand, I have to say that I'm with Matt Reeves on this one if he wants to keep it separate. He should not be obligated whatsoever to have his universe be retconned into being part of someone else's because of fan wish fulfillment.

 

[Boom]

If the idea is for the DCU to have a universal canon, then I remain adamant in not wanting Reeves' stuff anywhere near it. Nothing about the world Reeves created leads one to believe that metahumans, kaiju, robots and aliens exist in it. I don't want to break the internal logic of Reeves' world to placate a shared universe it wasn't conceived to be a part of.

 

[BatLobster]

After seeing the Superman trailer, I have this sort of cognitive dissonance where I feel pretty strongly that the stylistic clash would just be too much if they combined and cheapen everything being done with The Batman universe, but at the same time this sort of sense of inevitably about it all.

If Superman is a big hit, there's gonna be enormous pressure coming from above on both Gunn and Reeves to sort out whatever the creative blocks are and make it happen. WB will not be able to resist if they have independently successful Batman and Superman franchises running simultaneously for the first time. Whether or not we think this should happen or not, we all know it's true. Of course this is still dependent on Superman being a hit. But so far, the reaction to the teaser makes that feel like a distinct possibility.

 

[TheGDBatman]

I still think you stay the course with both franchises. Let The Batman universe exist independent of the DCU. Once the trilogy is done, introduce the new Batman in the DCU.

If Reeves takes too long, you can work in cameos or small roles for Batman to minimize any perceived clashes.

 

[solidsnake86]

After seeing the Superman trailer, I have this sort of cognitive dissonance where I feel pretty strongly that the stylistic clash would just be too much if they combined and cheapen everything being done with The Batman universe, but at the same time this sort of sense of inevitably about it all.

If Superman is a big hit, there's gonna be enormous pressure coming from above on both Gunn and Reeves to sort out whatever the creative blocks are and make it happen. WB will not be able to resist if they have independently successful Batman and Superman franchises running simultaneously for the first time. Whether or not we think this should happen or not, we all know it's true. Of course this is still dependent on Superman being a hit. But so far, the reaction to the teaser makes that feel like a distinct possibility.

I don't think they should be combined if superman is a failure and not well received.

But I'm with you in that there is going to be a lot of pressure to combine them together if superman is a hit. We can talk all we want on a message board about Reeves vision, art etc. but these characters belong to a corporation which pays the money for production and is beholden to shareholders to make a profit. I don't see a world where they move forward with 2 batman movies at the same time.

I will say the luxury here is that Gunn is a writer and filmmaker, so if it is forced to happen by the studio, I feel like this is the best situation for Reeves where he can still do his own thing.

 

[Boom]

I still think the right move here is to have the DCU Batman start off as more of a supporting/ensemble character. I wouldn't even broach the subject of a DCU Batman solo film until Reeves is done, and even then I'm not sure that's necessary.

The Brave and the Bold can be reworked to focus more on the Bat Family as a whole, and Batman can pop up in any number of team-oriented projects (Justice League, Waller, Checkmate, Teen Titans, etc). I've made this comparison before, but treat him like Mark Ruffalo's Banner/Hulk in the MCU. That's a sure-fire way to differentiate the DCU Batman from the Reeves Batman.

Perhaps an oversimplification, but I do think some of this will ultimately come down to ego. Is Gunn able/willing to let his Batman serve more a supporting role in the DCU while an Elseworld's version dominates the solo space? Or will Gunn ultimately pull rank?

With respect to others, I'm simply not understanding this desire to bridge Reeves' Batman with the DCU. Is this interest genuine, or is it driven more by fear of Gunn cancelling Reeves' franchise otherwise? I'm just struggling to see how someone can watch The Batman and the Penguin and walk away thinking "I want to see this Batman fighting aliens and robots." It's just so completely divorced from the internal logic of Reeves' world that it's almost like we're watching completely different things.

 

[solidsnake86]

I think a lot of people felt robbed with BvS being the first time batman and superman were on screen together.

I watched the movie well after the terrible reviews and didn't think it was as bad as everyone said it was, but for me at least, that's not the story I would have chosen.

I think with the batman being in year 2 and superman also early in his career, this is actually what people want to see, a batman and superman in their prime teaming up. The possibility of having your two main DC characters with two well received films is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

If you have an established batman again, I think you are effectively trying to make the same concept as BvS work which makes no sense to me.

I also believe that the bat family needs to be earned and taking that journey with Bruce is an important part of that story. Obviously it can be done, but I believe if you skip over that and just say he has all these sidekicks, it's not earned.

 

[BatLobster]

I still think the right move here is to have the DCU Batman start off as more of a supporting/ensemble character. I wouldn't even broach the subject of a DCU Batman solo film until Reeves is done, and even then I'm not sure that's necessary.

The Brave and the Bold can be reworked to focus more on the Bat Family as a whole, and Batman can pop up in any number of team-oriented projects (Justice League, Waller, Checkmate, Teen Titans, etc). I've made this comparison before, but treat him like Mark Ruffalo's Banner/Hulk in the MCU. That's a sure-fire way to differentiate the DCU Batman from the Reeves Batman.

Perhaps an oversimplification, but I do think some of this will ultimately come down to ego. Is Gunn able/willing to let his Batman serve more a supporting role in the DCU while an Elseworld's version dominates the solo space? Or will Gunn ultimately pull rank?

With respect to others, I'm simply not understanding this desire to bridge Reeves' Batman with the DCU. Is this interest genuine, or is it driven more by fear of Gunn cancelling Reeves' franchise otherwise? I'm just struggling to see how someone can watch The Batman and the Penguin and walk away thinking "I want to see this Batman fighting aliens and robots." It's just so completely divorced from the internal logic of Reeves' world that it's almost like we're watching completely different things.

The argument I'm hearing from the people that really want it is that the whole point of the crossover is that it's supposed to be a kind of jarring tonal contrast of two worlds colliding. It's the same reason people fantasized about Keaton's Batman and Chris Reeves' Suped meeting. And to be fair, that was kind of part of my issue with the Snyderverse. I didn't feel that much of a contrast between Batman and Superman because the whole tone of everything was uber dark and grandiose. They also cite how the Timmverse was able to contain both BTAS and STAS/JLU, and it didn't interfere with the integrity of BTAS as a standalone piece.

That said, I do think animation is a different beast and I think the vision for the Reevesverse is so specific that it would be a tougher gap to bridge. It's exactly why I wasn't a big fan of The Flash. I ultimately didn't really like seeing Keaton's Batman removed from the creative vision of his Gotham. But I do think it would be a very high risk/high reward kind of situation. There's always a chance they could somehow pull it off and make some peak MCU money.

 

[Arachnerd]

I'm sorry, but I just do not see how peer pressuring Matt Reeves into forcing his universe into the DCU is in any way a good idea. If he wants to keep his universe separate and do his own thing, then he has the right to, it's worked well for him so far. He should not be dictated by fans who want it to happen. Plus the draw of Brave and the Bold is having an already established Batman and Batfamily, which has not been explored in live-action so far.

 

[ENCK]

They aren't at odds lol

How do you know? And how do we know they are or are not?

 

[ENCK]

I'm sorry, but I just do not see how peer pressuring Matt Reeves into forcing his universe into the DCU is in any way a good idea. If he wants to keep his universe separate and do his own thing, then he has the right to, it's worked well for him so far. He should not be dictated by fans who want it to happen. Plus the draw of Brave and the Bold is having an already established Batman and Batfamily, which has not been explored in live-action so far.

It's not a good idea IMO. Reeves Batman is realistic and grounded vs Brave and the Bold full of fantasy and vivid fantastical villains. Both should stay separate. It wouldn't make sense. And if you chose the same actor to do both keeping those worlds separate it would be even worse and confuse a lot of people.

 

[BatLobster]

It's not a good idea IMO. Reeves Batman is realistic and grounded vs Brave and the Bold full of fantasy and vivid fantastical villains. Both should stay separate. It wouldn't make sense. And if you chose the same actor to do both keeping those worlds separate it would be even worse and confuse a lot of people.

I don't disagree, but I think a lot of people just really don't want to see two Batmen. It's of a bit of a conundrum unless they just tiptoe around Batman until Reeves is finished with the character. Which at this rate, will be sometime in the 2030s.

 

[ENCK]

I don't disagree, but I think a lot of people just really don't want to see two Batmen. It's of a bit of a conundrum unless they just tiptoe around Batman until Reeves is finished with the character. Which at this rate, will be sometime in the 2030s.

Valid point. Either way is a bit stressful to ponder.

 

[Johnny Frost]

I genuinely doubt that Pattinson wants to be part of a big shared universe, Reeves himself considered it a miracle that he signed on for a trilogy.

I don't see this merger happening, Gunn would have to give up several of his plans for Battinson to make sense in the DCU, there would be no Teen Titans since as far as we know Rob's Bruce won't have a Robin any time soon, plans for Damian (Gunn's favorite Robin) would have to be scrapped, etc.

 

[emielaen]

How do you know? And how do we know they are or are not?

I don't know lol but one piece of a rumor from a scooper everyone dislikes and now they're at odds?

Everything from the people themselves seem fine. Why promote Penguin and continue to sell Part II and other spinoffs so heavily? Why give him producer credit for all things Batman like last week?

 

[Pennywise]

We also asked if he is at all worried that a Clayface movie is now likely to open before the next Batman movie, from Matt Reeves, currently scheduled for release a month after Clayface. “Well, I mean, Clayface is in the DCU so it doesn’t matter,” Gunn said.

Definitely still think it’ll be delayed.

 

[solidsnake86]

The DCU and elseworld have no meaning to the general public.

Why would Gunn be worried, the best thing that could happen to the clayface movie is for people to think it's connected to the batman (see the penguin).

It's almost a laughable question.

 

[SwordOfMorning]

About two days to find the new crisis I see.

 

[The Lazarus Pit]

I don’t care if Reeves gets mad, he can ****ing get over it, just make Pattinson the Batman in the DCU.

 

[BobJM]

I still think the right move here is to have the DCU Batman start off as more of a supporting/ensemble character. I wouldn't even broach the subject of a DCU Batman solo film until Reeves is done, and even then I'm not sure that's necessary.

The Brave and the Bold can be reworked to focus more on the Bat Family as a whole, and Batman can pop up in any number of team-oriented projects (Justice League, Waller, Checkmate, Teen Titans, etc). I've made this comparison before, but treat him like Mark Ruffalo's Banner/Hulk in the MCU. That's a sure-fire way to differentiate the DCU Batman from the Reeves Batman.

Perhaps an oversimplification, but I do think some of this will ultimately come down to ego. Is Gunn able/willing to let his Batman serve more a supporting role in the DCU while an Elseworld's version dominates the solo space? Or will Gunn ultimately pull rank?

With respect to others, I'm simply not understanding this desire to bridge Reeves' Batman with the DCU. Is this interest genuine, or is it driven more by fear of Gunn cancelling Reeves' franchise otherwise? I'm just struggling to see how someone can watch The Batman and the Penguin and walk away thinking "I want to see this Batman fighting aliens and robots." It's just so completely divorced from the internal logic of Reeves' world that it's almost like we're watching completely different things.

For me, I would simply treat it like Daredevil on Netflix. The series existed in the MCU but didn’t take place up in the clouds alongside Iron Man and the Avengers. It was grounded, street level. Criminals still sell drugs and run guns in the MCU, it’s just not what Thor is going up against so we as the audience don’t see it.

Tony Stark was fighting guys in armored suits before taking on Loki, so why couldn’t we get a similar character evolution for Pattinson’s Batman? Just when he thinks he’s got this all figured out, he follows a case to Metropolis and meets Superman and all the sci-fi shenanigans Gunn is cooking up. Batman again realizes that he has to become more to combat the criminal element—in all its forms, human and otherwise.

That all said, this is a moot point if Brave and the Bold still happens with Damian Wayne because, for me, that doesn’t to gel with Pattinson’s Batman—not at this stage anyway, unless we see a significant time jump in the sequel (which doesn’t seem to be the case). So probably best to go the route you suggest, but it’s just unfortunate because both actors seem so great in their respective roles and I’m still waiting for my World’s Finest movie dammit!!

But I’ll just have to wait for Gunn to cast Glen Powell.

 

[Gandhi]

I personally don’t believe Pattinson wants to be DCU Batman. From the way he picked his projects after Twilight and mostly lives his life out of the spotlight, I don’t think he’d be interested in the shared universe, cameos etc. Could obviously be wrong of course but Reeves working slow is also actually an advantage in some ways as it gives him more time to do other projects in between.