James Gunn Sets the Record Straight on Rumors That an MCU and Peacemaker Star Is Landing Another DC Role
James Gunn clapped back on Threads, swatting down a fan’s fake leak that claimed Michael Rooker would play Damian Wayne in DCU’s The Brave and the Bold and reminding would-be leakers that confidential info won’t fly.
Quick one: someone tried to fake a big DCU scoop, and James Gunn basically turned it into a bit. A fan posted a mock announcement claiming Michael Rooker is playing Damian Wayne in The Brave and the Bold. Gunn saw it on Threads, poked fun at it, and the comments piled in. Zero chance it was real, but as far as internet theater goes, pretty entertaining.
The Rooker of it all
If you know Gunn, you know Rooker is one of his go-to guys. That fake leak worked because it tapped into their very real history of teaming up across Gunn projects. Also, yes, Rooker is one of the rare actors who has logged time in both Marvel and DC.
- Slither (2006)
- Super (2010)
- Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
- The Suicide Squad (2021)
- Gunn's current DCU run, including this year's Superman movie and the Peacemaker series
Gunn has said he was a fan of Rooker long before they met, and that part of why they click is Rooker’s chaotic, creative brain. Translation: the man pitches wild ideas and Gunn loves it.
No, Rooker is not playing Damian Wayne
Just to state the obvious: the rumor is nonsense. Damian Wayne is Bruce Wayne and Talia al Ghul’s kid, traditionally a pre-teen when he shows up as Robin. Michael Rooker is 70. Unless the movie is going for the oldest Boy Wonder on record (it isn’t), this was always a joke.
What Gunn actually said about The Brave and the Bold
On the real news front, Gunn recently talked to IGN and was pretty relaxed about the Batman search. He would not confirm ages for Bruce or Damian, and hinted that some canon details are in motion. The casting is not locked; the specifics are not locked. And apparently a lot of Very Famous People want to wear the cowl.
"No, I think you have to wait to see the movie. Some things have changed. Plenty of things are in flux on what his situation is with his parentage and all that stuff, so I wouldn't take any of it - Yeah, I mean, the actor who wants to... Listen, first of all, I can't tell you the amount of big actors that have told me they want to be Batman."
Read between the lines: do not assume the usual 35-ish Bruce with a 10-year-old Damian. Ages and even the family setup could shift to make the movie work. That does not point to Rooker as Damian (again, obviously), it just means nothing is set in stone yet.
The current state of play
Official casting for The Brave and the Bold has not been announced. Andy Muschietti is directing. Release date: still TBA. In the meantime, Gunn is happy to tease, joke, and let the rumor mill spin. Your fancasts for Damian are welcome, just maybe keep them under, say, retirement age.