David Zaslav, CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, promised that the DC Extended Universe will expand significantly in the coming years.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter about recent changes at Warner Bros. Discovery, most notably the appointment of James Gunn and Peter Safran as co-chairs & co-CEOs of DC Studios, Zaslav stated that the DCEU has a lot of room for growth and opportunity. “Part of our strategy is to drive the hell out of DC, which James and Peter will do,” he explained. “I believe they have wowed the audience. I believe they will delight you over time.” Zaslav also stated that there will be too many Batmans in the new DCEU. “There won’t be four Batmans,” he said.
Zaslav’s latest Batman information comes at a time when at least three actors have been confirmed or are heavily rumored to play the Dark Knight in upcoming live-action DC films. Following the commercial and critical success of 2022’s The Batman, director Matt Reeves signed a groundbreaking deal with Warner Bros. Discovery to produce several more projects, including a sequel to his hit film, in which Robert Pattinson will reprise his role as the Caped Crusader.
How Many Batmans Fit In The DC Universe?
In addition, Michael Keaton will reprise his role as Batman in the upcoming Flash film. “It seemed like fun,” Keaton said of donning the suit once more. The actor previously appeared in 1989’s Batman & 1992’s Batman Returns before declining to return for 1995’s Batman Forever due to his disagreement with the film’s tone. “I was curious what it would be like after all these years,” he went on. “It wasn’t so much me doing it as it was something I was curious about, strangely, socially. This whole thing is enormous. They live in their own world. So, as an outsider, I look at it and think, ‘Holy moly!'”
While not officially confirmed, Ben Affleck is widely expected to appear in Aquaman and also the Lost Kingdom after Jason Momoa posted a clip from the Warner Bros. lot that appeared to show Affleck dressed as Bruce Wayne. “Well, I can’t tell you anything about the reunion,” Momoa explained in an interview following the release of the video. “[Affleck] may or may not appear in [Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom], and there may be more or fewer, or even more, Batmans in it; who knows? You can only know a little bit.”
As of now, Michael Keaton is set to play Batman in The Flash, which will be released in theaters on June 23, 2023.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter