James Gunn Reveals Where the Flash and Robert Pattinson’s Batman Stand in the DCU

James Gunn popped onto Threads and, in typical Gunn fashion, answered a couple of fan requests with blunt clarity. If you were hoping to see Robert Pattinson’s Batman or Grant Gustin’s Flash folded into the new DCU, here’s the short version: don’t hold your breath.

What Gunn actually said

On a Threads post showing Gustin’s Barry Allen with the caption 'This gotta happen,' Gunn replied:

'It happened on TV for 9 seasons.'

And when someone (in a comment that has since been deleted) asked if Pattinson could show up in the DCU as a Batman variant separate from Matt Reeves’s films, Gunn’s answer was even shorter:

'No.'

Where that leaves The Flash

Grant Gustin headlined The CW’s The Flash from 2014 to 2023, racking up nine seasons and a lot of goodwill. Fans would love to see him carry that momentum into the DCU, but Gunn’s quip pretty much shuts down the idea of just porting the TV version over.

As for the new DCU’s Flash, nothing official yet on who the main speedster will be or when they’ll arrive. It could be Barry Allen, it could be Wally West, it could be both eventually — but there’s no announcement right now.

And Batman, specifically Pattinson

Pattinson is firmly planted in Matt Reeves’s corner of Gotham — the separate 'Epic Crime Saga' that started with The Batman in 2022. That world expanded with The Penguin spin-off series, and The Batman sequel is currently slated for 2027. Gunn’s one-word 'No' makes it clear that Pattinson will not be moonlighting in the DCU on the side, even as a one-off variant.

The DCU’s Batman plan (such as it is)

DC Studios does have a DCU Batman movie coming: The Brave and the Bold. It was announced back in January 2023 and is still date-less. The most recent movement we’ve heard is that Christina Hodson is working on the script. In other words, it’s happening — just not quickly.

The state of play, at a glance

• Gunn on Gustin joining the DCU: joking 'no' — he already did nine seasons as The Flash on TV.
• Gunn on Pattinson crossing into the DCU: 'No.' Pattinson stays in Matt Reeves’s standalone Gotham.
• DCU’s Flash: unannounced. Barry vs. Wally is still an open question, and both are possible down the line.
• DCU’s Batman: The Brave and the Bold is in development with Christina Hodson scripting; no release date yet.
• Reeves’s corner: The Batman (2022), The Penguin spin-off rolled out after that, and The Batman sequel is dated for 2027.

So, yes, the multiverse is fun, but at least for these two: Gustin’s Flash stays a TV thing, and Pattinson’s Batman stays in Reeves’s world. Simple, if not the crossover some fans were dialing up.