Warner Bros. May Have Cast Huge Marvel Star as New Batman in DCU Reboot

The new DCU under James Gunn and Peter Safran is beginning to take shape. Following the release of Superman (2025) this year — the first official film in the rebooted franchise — fans are eager to see what’s next for the studio’s new continuity of films and television shows.

Directed by Gunn and starring David Corenswet as the Man of Steel, Superman (2025) reintroduced audiences to a more hopeful, grounded version of the iconic hero and set the tone for what’s to come. Next year, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, with Milly Alcock in the titular role, is set to hit theaters, followed by Superman: Man of Tomorrow in 2027.

A New Batman Movie Is Coming

There are many other DCU projects in the pipeline, but of the most anticipated is still shrouded in mystery: The Brave and the Bold, which will mark the debut of a new Bruce Wayne/Batman within Gunn’s continuity. The film, helmed by The Flash (2023) director Andy Muschietti, is expected to adapt Grant Morrison’s comic storyline of the same name — a father-and-son tale centered on Bruce Wayne and his son Damian Wayne, the latest Robin.

However, the DCU will not include Matt Reeves’ ongoing The Batman universe, which exists in its own standalone timeline within “DC Elseworlds” media. The next film in that series, The Batman — Part II, which will see the return of Robert Pattinson, hits theaters in 2027.

So, who will wear the cape and cowl in the Batman reboot?

Related: James Gunn’s DCU Falls Apart as Zack Snyder Confirms That Henry Cavill Is Still Superman

James Gunn’s Shortlist of Batman Contenders

While no casting has been confirmed, speculation is running wild. James Gunn has reportedly been considering several actors for the role of Batman in The Brave and the Bold, though none have been confirmed. Among the rumored frontrunners is Reacher star Alan Ritchson, who many believe fits Gunn’s preference for physically commanding yet emotionally grounded performers.

Ritchson has already proven his superhero credentials through past roles in Titans and Blue Mountain State, and his name has come up repeatedly in fan discussions and insider reports alike. Notably absent from Gunn’s alleged shortlist, however, is Josh Brolin — despite years of fan support for the idea of him donning the cowl.

The Oscar-nominated actor, best known for portraying the villain Thanos in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019), as well as Cable in Deadpool 2 (2018), has long been a fan favorite for the role of Bruce Wayne/Batman.

In fact, before Ben Affleck was officially cast in Zack Snyder’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), Josh Brolin was reportedly a frontrunner for the part.

Josh Brolin May Have Secretly Been Cast as Batman

Now, though entirely unrelated to the DCU in any way, shape, or form, a curious detail in Brolin’s latest movie Weapons (2025), the mystery horror released in theaters earlier this year, is likely to reignite those theories.

In two scenes, his character is shown sleeping in his missing son’s bed — which, notably, is covered in Batman-themed bedding. On the surface, it’s an innocuous set detail, but it may be more than a coincidence, and fans have noticed, too, leading to discussions on Reddit.

Other than it being distributed by Warner Bros., Weapons has no connection to the DCU; however, Hollywood has a history of “accidental foreshadowing.” Fans might recall that World War Z (2013) predicted Peter Capaldi’s casting as the next Doctor Who — whether intentional or not — as he appeared as a doctor working at the W.H.O. (the World Health Organization).

The film was released just two months before Capaldi was cast as the Twelfth Doctor in the long-running sci-fi series. Could a Brolin/Batman announcement be imminent? Is it just another similar coincidence, or a signal that the actor’s long-rumored turn as Gotham’s dark protector is finally happening? Only time will tell.

If Brolin really has joined Gunn’s DCU, it would mark one of the biggest crossovers in superhero history — Thanos trading his gauntlet for the Batcave.

Although he’ll hardly be the first actor to have played Batman and a supervillain —  he’d be joining the likes of Michael Keaton (Tim Burton’s Batman films), who played Adrian Toomes/The Vulture in Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) and Christian Bale (Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight trilogy), who played Gorr in Thor: Love and Thunder (2022).

Would you like to see Josh Brolin play Batman? Let us know your thoughts!