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

[The Shape]

Sounds like Gunn and WB/DC are as confused and annoyed with the whole Batman situation as we are, and as the general public will be when there are 2 Batman universes happening at once.

Horrible situation overall for the new DCU.

 

[emielaen]

Geez, he didn't completely close the door on the merger. Yes, I see he said "unlikely" but .. Why does Gunn always put in himself in a box whenever he speaks about Batman?

He's the CEO of DC Studios lol

 

[SwordOfMorning]

Sounds like Gunn and WB/DC are as confused and annoyed with the whole Batman situation as we are, and as the general public will be when there are 2 Batman universes happening at once.

Horrible situation overall for the new DCU.

Eh, ultimately a Batman movie that is probably going to be very good will be made. Nothing else matters much to me.

My only big hope is that if there’s a major chance that no matter what II is the end for Reeves/Pattinson that’s decided in advance and they just make it an ending.

 

[donuts]

Sounds like Gunn and WB/DC are as confused and annoyed with the whole Batman situation as we are, and as the general public will be when there are 2 Batman universes happening at once.

Horrible situation overall for the new DCU.

There is no horrible situation. We, as audience, are just not in on the official confirmation yet. You do realize that there is always a specific schedule as to when and how announce specific news?

Also, Gunn is clearly having fun with fans being obsessive and asking the same dumb questions over and over again. Since day one, they have spoken about the Reevesverse as separate. If you have any doubts about it, just wait.

 

[SwordOfMorning]

Unless you’re deeply, deeply invested in the public facing brand management of DC I don’t see much reason for anyone to be upset about the Batman situation.

 

[Boom]

I sense some degree of frustration in Gunn's language. As head of DC Studios, not knowing how audiences will receive two different versions of Batman existing concurrently is certainly some cause for stress. And he's probably having to think about this in ways he'd rather not have to.

You can't position to create a DC universe without Batman in some meaningful capacity. You just can't. Well, if audiences aren't receptive to The Brave and the Bold because they prefer what Reeves is selling, that's a tough spot to be in if your Gunn. He has to find some way to make both of these work, and there's simply no knowing what will happen or what audiences will think until they actually just do it.

Which is why I truly believe the path forward here for them is to lean heavily into the Bat Family and the more heightened fantasy/sci-fi elements of the Batman mythos. If they sell it as a "Batman, Robin, and Batgirl Movie" and not a "Batman Movie," that might be the hook they need.

With all of that said, unless The Batman: Part II is too big and successful to ignore, I think this is the end of the road for Reeves' version. I really do. If it's obvious that audiences aren't on board with two different Batman franchises happening at the same time and Gunn has to choose between his version or Reeves', it's pretty obvious what he's going to do.

 

[SwordOfMorning]

I sense some degree of frustration in Gunn's language. As head of DC Studios, not knowing how audiences will receive two different versions of Batman existing concurrently is certainly some cause for stress. And he's probably having to think about this in ways he'd rather not have to.

If the goal is for the DCU to be a sustained and successful mythology, Batman has to be a key player in it. You can't position to create a DC universe without him in some meaningful capacity. You just can't. Well, if audiences aren't receptive to The Brave and the Bold because they prefer what Reeves is selling, that's a tough spot to be in if your Gunn. He has to find some way to make both of these work, and there's simply no knowing what will happen or what audiences will think until they actually just do it.

Which is why I truly believe the path forward here for them is to lean heavily into the Bat Family and the more heightened fantasy/sci-fi elements of the Batman mythos. If they sell it as a "Batman, Robin, and Batgirl Movie" and not a "Batman Movie," that might be the hook they need.

With all of that said, unless The Batman: Part II is too big and successful to ignore, I think this is the end of the road for Reeves' version. I really do. If it's obvious that audiences aren't on board with two different Batman franchises happening at the same time and Gunn has to choose between his version or Reeves', it's pretty obvious what he's going to do.

I more or less agree. A testament to what a trash, obstructive idea doing a shared universe again was to begin with.

 

[Boom]

I more or less agree. A testament to what a trash, obstructive idea doing a shared universe again was to begin with.

I think conceptually, Gunn's head is in the right place with what he wants this universe to be. But as someone who loves what Reeves is doing and wants him to see it through to the end, the complications thrown into things by the DCU is not great for me. That's not to say I can't or won't enjoy what Gunn does with the character. But if Reeves has to cut things short just to satisfy a shared universe, pretty annoying to say the least.

World's Finest
Trinity
Justice League
Teen Titans
Brave and the Bold/Caped Crusaders

No shortage of ways to get Batman into the DCU without having to do a solo film. It might not be what Gunn would prefer to do, but there is definitely a path to navigating these waters while letting Reeves do his thing.

 

[SwordOfMorning]

I think conceptually, Gunn's head is in the right place with what he wants this universe to be. But as someone who loves what Reeves is doing and wants him to see it through to the end, the complications thrown into things by the DCU is not great for me. That's not to say I can't or won't enjoy what Gunn does with the character. But if Reeves has to cut things short just to satisfy a shared universe, pretty annoying to say the least.

World's Finest, Justice League, Teen Titans, Brave and the Bold/Caped Crusaders.

No shortage of ways to get Batman into the DCU without having to do a solo film. It might not be what Gunn would prefer to do, but there is definitely a path to navigated these waters while letting Reeves do his thing.

Tbh, I’d be excited and into Pattinson integrating into most potential DCUs I can imagine except what Gunn is doing - not my preference, I don’t think there will ever be a successful DCU, but it’s a fun idea. There’s something uniquely tacky and annoying about everything that’s come out from it so far to me - I’ve been annoyed by basically literally every decision Gunn has made from casting to design to creatives hired etc. Which is a shame because my ideal for Pattinson is to transition into being more fantastical, I’m fine with grounded Batman but it’s not my preference on any level.

I do, genuinely, think they might be doing what you want - which is what they should do for sure - and I don’t think that’s just blind optimism. I also sense that Gunn is genuinely supportive and defensive of Reeves, to a greater extent than a non creative in charge of DC probably would be.

 

[donuts]

I sense some degree of frustration in Gunn's language. As head of DC Studios, not knowing how audiences will receive two different versions of Batman existing concurrently is certainly some cause for stress. And he's probably having to think about this in ways he'd rather not have to.

You can't position to create a DC universe without Batman in some meaningful capacity. You just can't. Well, if audiences aren't receptive to The Brave and the Bold because they prefer what Reeves is selling, that's a tough spot to be in if your Gunn. He has to find some way to make both of these work, and there's simply no knowing what will happen or what audiences will think until they actually just do it.

Which is why I truly believe the path forward here for them is to lean heavily into the Bat Family and the more heightened fantasy/sci-fi elements of the Batman mythos. If they sell it as a "Batman, Robin, and Batgirl Movie" and not a "Batman Movie," that might be the hook they need.

With all of that said, unless The Batman: Part II is too big and successful to ignore, I think this is the end of the road for Reeves' version. I really do. If it's obvious that audiences aren't on board with two different Batman franchises happening at the same time and Gunn has to choose between his version or Reeves', it's pretty obvious what he's going to do.

In the Rolling Stone interview, Gunn says that he is a way into Batman that's not the Reeves one, but also not a campy, comedic take on it.

And to be fair, there is a specific segment of Batman comics/eras that would be a perfect alternative to the Year One-ish Reevesverse.

They'll figure it out.

 

[SwordOfMorning]

Ultimately, I’d just like them to decide long in advance. It is absolutely fine if a little sad to me for them to rework Part II as an ending. A nice satisfying duology, I only liked about 25% of The Penguin so no more spin offs wouldn’t upset me. It’ll only be terribly annoying to me if II ends on a cliffhanger or big sequel hook that’s never resolved and feels eternally incomplete, which will also be yet another years and years long source of drama.

 

[NotToday]

Quotes on the Reeves/Pattinson Batman specifically:

You once said that the fact that Robert Pattinson’s Batman is not in this universe was Matt Reeves’ choice. Does that mean if it were up to you, you would’ve just pulled that into your universe?
It would be a consideration. We’d have to think about it. We’d have to think about it. It is not like we’ve never discussed it.

I really should clear this up. Is there still a non-zero chance that Matt Reeves’ Batman will get sucked into your universe?
[Long pause.] I would never say zero, because you just never know. But it’s not likely. It’s not likely at all. I’ll also say Batman Part II is not canceled. That’s the other thing I hear all the time — that Batman Part II is canceled. It’s not canceled. We don’t have a script. Matt’s slow. Let him take his time. Let him do what he’s doing. God, people are mean. Let him do his thing, man.

'Superman' Director James Gunn: 'You Don't Want Everyone to Root for You'

'Superman' director James Gunn on Krypto, Lex Luthor, getting fired from Marvel, and projects from 'Supergirl' to 'Lanterns' and 'The Batman Part II.'

www.rollingstone.com

 

[emielaen]

If Part II is successful, it's not ending with Part II.

 

[flickchick85]

I think conceptually, Gunn's head is in the right place with what he wants this universe to be. But as someone who loves what Reeves is doing and wants him to see it through to the end, the complications thrown into things by the DCU is not great for me. That's not to say I can't or won't enjoy what Gunn does with the character. But if Reeves has to cut things short just to satisfy a shared universe, pretty annoying to say the least.

World's Finest
Trinity
Justice League
Teen Titans
Brave and the Bold/Caped Crusaders

No shortage of ways to get Batman into the DCU without having to do a solo film. It might not be what Gunn would prefer to do, but there is definitely a path to navigating these waters while letting Reeves do his thing.

I've been saying it for nearly 2 years now: I genuinely don't believe Gunn intends to make a solo Batman franchise while Reeves' movies are still going. As you just listed, there are plenty of ways to have his Batman in the DCU until then without a solo film, and I believe that's essentially what is planned.

 

[TheSmoothKnight]

Another confirmation that Reeves is working on both his Batman universe and the DCU.

 

[OrbOfConfusion]

I have seen approximately 0 percent of the things that he's been in, so nice to be able to go in fresh.

 

[darkdefective]

I've been saying it for nearly 2 years now: I genuinely don't believe Gunn intends to make a solo Batman franchise while Reeves' movies are still going. As you just listed, there are plenty of ways to have his Batman in the DCU until then without a solo film, and I believe that's essentially what is planned.

I don’t think Gunn has the same hang ups. He’s not precious about Reeves universe like some people in here, and he undoubtedly wants his own version of Batman. Not doing any solo movies cuts the potential in half. He would’ve never announced one if he didn’t want to make it.

 

[emielaen]

Brave and the Bold already isn’t a solo film though.