DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn recently offered an update on the search for the DCU’s Batman during a podcast appearance, revealing that casting is “not very far away.” Gunn also shot down claims that the new Dark Knight has already been chosen and said the actor will be close in age to David Corenswet, who plays Superman.
Gunn said an actor’s previous credits in his projects would not take them out of the running—even someone who played a bit part in "The Suicide Squad" could land the role. “If I gave somebody a one-day role in ‘The Suicide Squad’ and he happens to be the best person to play Batman, I’m not going to rule him out because of that,” he said.
“I want to consider everybody. One of the things that excites me most about casting Batman is finding the actor who is genuinely the best fit for the role. Superman has always been cast based on who is best for the part, but for some reason, Batman is always played by a movie star.” Gunn stressed that an actor’s ability to embody the character matters more than name recognition.
As for age, Gunn sees the DCU’s Batman and Superman as friends and heroes from the same generation, meaning there should not be a major age gap between them. Media reports have speculated that the new Batman could be played by an actor in his early to mid-30s.
"Reacher" star Alan Ritchson, a popular fan pick for the role, previously revealed that he had discussed other characters with DC Studios—not Batman. Co-CEO Peter Safran has also said the studio is still searching for the right role for Ritchson. With the Batman casting process nearing its start, the identity of the DCU’s new Dark Knight could become clear sometime in 2027.