Reacher's Alan Ritchson is a fan-favorite to play the DCU's Batman, but there are many other actors who'd also be perfect for the role.

But James Gunn, as of now, has remained adamant that Pattinson won't be The Dark Knight in the DCU. He reaffirmed it again in an Entertainment Tonight interview from July 28, 2025. When the reporter asked Gunn about the possibility of Robert Pattinson playing the Caped Crusader in the DCU, the filmmaker responded:

James Gunn has once again confirmed that the DCU Batman won't be Robert Pattinson – and I'm still disappointed. "We've talked about it before, but it's not what's happening right now," Gunn told Entertainment Tonight. "Everything's in flux, so we'll figure out what we're doing next."