Phil Roberts 
James Gunn comments on fan casting Alan Ritchson as Batman in The Brave and the Bold.
With Superman fever now gripping the world, director James Gunn is enjoying some much-needed downtime. After a grueling press tour that took him from Brazil to the UK, and from Los Angeles to Paris, the DC head honcho has earned a much-needed rest. However, with the film now basking in the limelight of its success, Gunn stopped by the Happy Sad Confused Podcast to chat with Josh Horowitz about the film and the future of the newly minted DC Universe.
The one-hour interview was open and explored various intriguing aspects of the production. However, the most insightful information came from Gunn’s discussion about the new Batman. In recent months, the most popular fan-casting for the role of Batman put Reacher star Alan Ritchson front and center. Ritchson himself openly declared his interest in the role, and most recently, the actor admitted he would be open to playing Batman for free!
So, given the overwhelming support Ritchson has, as well as his eagerness for the role, is James Gunn tempted to cast him as Batman in The Brave and the Bold? And…when will fans meet their new Batman for the first time? Thankfully, Josh Horowitz asked the tough questions.
A NEW DARK KNIGHT!
Josh Horowitz: Do you think we’ll see that new Batman for the first time in Brave and the Bold?
James Gunn: I’m not gonna say that. Okay.
Josh Horowitz: Have you gotten into casting yet in your head?
James Gunn: No.
Josh Horowitz: What do you think about the fans that talk about someone like Alan Ritchson?
James Gunn: Um, I am a big Alan Ritchson fan. Both as an actor and as a guy. Let’s just wait to see what happens.
Josh Horowitz: But when you’re casting that role, it would seem to me you have to differentiate in some substantial way the take on Batman. So it doesn’t get confusing, right? Like whether it’s a different age, a different vibe, something, is that in your head?
James Gunn: Yeah. What two Batmans have the same vibe? Well.. Cloney and Kilmer? I mean, just because they had the same director. Right. You know what I mean?
Josh Horowitz: So it’s like.. It’s dictated by the material.
James Gunn: Of course. Do I ever think about it? Sure, there are people out there I think about, but let’s see where the script comes in. Okay. It’s not the furthest long thing. I mean, we have things that are much, much further along than Brave and the Bold.
BRAVE AND THE BOLD
Previously, Gunn gave us some insight on what we can expect from The Brave and the Bold, and Alan Ritchson seems tailor-made for the role. The film will introduce the Bat-family with a heavy focus on Bruce Wayne and his relationship with his estranged son, Damien.
“The Brave and the Bold” will introduce “the Bat family,” Gunn said. First among them is Robin, who is returning fully to live-action movies for the first time since 1997’s ill-fated feature “Batman and Robin.”
This version of Robin is Damian Wayne; Gunn described him as “our favorite Robin,” “a little son of a bitch,” an “assassin” and a “murderer.”
Damian is Bruce Wayne’s biological son, a fact unknown to Wayne for the first eight to 10 years of Damian’s life. “It’s a very strange sort of father-son story about the two of them,” Gunn said.
The project is based on the run of Batman comics authored by Grant Morrison, who Gunn said was “exceptionally influential” on the DCU. The other comics writer Gunn mentioned by name was Tom King — who participated in the DCU writers room and leads right into the next feature project.
RETURN OF THE CAPED CRUSADERS
The return of the Dynamic Duo has been a long time coming. Robin has been unfairly excluded from the wider DC Universe after his divisive appearances in Joel Schumacher’s Batman sequels. While some fans, including myself, would prefer to see Dick Grayson back in the iconic suit, it’s refreshing to see Damian Wayne getting his chance to shine.
Whether or not Dick Grayson will return as Nightwing in the future remains to be seen. However, with Gunn promising the imminent arrival of the Bat Family, it’s likely that Batgirl and Nightwing won’t be too far behind.
RELEASE
Taking on the role of the Caped Crusader is a challenging task that can significantly impact an actor’s career. With James Gunn confirming that long-term contracts will bind any actor cast in the new DC Universe, the next Batman is set to be a lasting presence for the foreseeable future. Given his impressive performance as Jack Reacher in Prime Video’s “Reacher,” Alan Ritchson appears to be an excellent fit for the role. He possesses the necessary screen presence, physicality, and acting skills to portray a remarkable Dark Knight. However, whether he aligns with the new vision for the DC Universe ultimately depends on the decisions made by James Gunn and Peter Safran.
Who would you cast as the new Batman? Are you excited about The Brave and the Bold? Sound off below.
Meet Phil Roberts! He’s the dedicated owner, daily content manager, and editor-in-chief of The Future of the Force. Phil is a budding novelist who turned his passion toward writing about the franchises he loves back in 2016. He’s a huge fan of all things Star Wars, Batman, DC, Marvel, Star Trek, Indiana Jones, Ghostbusters, King Kong, and the Ray Harryhausen movies. Phil is a BFI-accredited journalist and a distinguished member of the Film Critics Association UK.
If he’s not catching a movie at the cinema, you can bet he’s streaming something just as awesome!
