James Gunn Says DCU’s Batman Casting Is ‘Not Very Far Away’, Wants Actor Around David Corenswet’s Superman’s Age

James Gunn has offered an update on the casting of Batman in the new DC Universe, revealing that the search for the actor who will take on the iconic superhero is approaching. The DC Studios co-chief has confirmed that the character has not been cast yet, dismissing speculation that the Dark Knight could make an appearance in an upcoming DC project. He also indicated that the actor chosen will be around the same age as David Corenswet’s Superman, placing the likely casting pool closer to the actor’s generation than the older iterations of the character.

Speaking on “The Suicide Squad: Is It Canon? The Official Podcast”, Gunn said the casting process is “not very far away”. He also made it clear that an actor’s previous appearance in a DC project would not automatically rule them out of consideration. “When we do cast the DCU Batman, which isn’t very far away, if I gave somebody a day role in ‘The Suicide Squad’ that is going to be the best Batman, I’m not going to rule him out from that. I want to get everybody into account,” he said.

Gunn also discussed his approach to finding the next actor to wear the cape and cowl. Rather than making established star power the deciding factor, he wants to identify the performer best suited to the role. “One of the things that excites me about casting Batman is being able to pick a Batman who’s actually the best actor for that role. Superman’s have always been chosen based on who the best actor for that role is. And for some reason, Batman’s are always chosen as movie stars,” he said.

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Age, however, will be an important consideration. When asked whether the casting team needs to think about the actor’s ability to continue playing Batman over the next decade, Gunn agreed. He then clarified that the DCU’s version of the character would not be significantly older than Superman. “Roughly, Batman and Superman are around the same age. I don’t think they’re drastically different ages. They’re future best pals, contemporaries,” he said.

Corenswet, who made his debut as Superman in last year’s “Superman”, is 33. Gunn’s comments suggest that DC Studios is looking at an actor in a broadly similar age bracket for Batman, although he has not offered a specific age range or named any candidates. The casting update also makes it clear that the studio has not secretly finalised its choice, despite ongoing speculation about potential appearances across the DCU.

The new Batman will headline “The Brave and the Bold”, a film that is part of the DCU’s first chapter, Gods and Monsters. The project is expected to introduce the wider Bat-family, including Bruce Wayne’s son Damian Wayne as Robin. Andy Muschietti is attached to direct the film, which will exist separately from Matt Reeves’ “The Batman” franchise, led by Robert Pattinson. Pattinson’s version of the character belongs to a separate continuity and is not the Batman Gunn is currently casting for the interconnected DCU.

Gunn’s latest comments offer a clearer picture of the kind of actor he wants for the role, but stop short of revealing when the casting announcement will arrive. For now, the emphasis appears to be on finding the right performer rather than simply the biggest name.