Peter Safran, James Gunn, Rachel Brosnahan and Superman actor David Corenswet, Manila, June 2025. Photo: U.S. Embassy in the Philippines, public domain.
The Lowdown
The most promising part of James Gunn’s Batman update is the relationship he is picturing: Bruce Wayne and Clark Kent as contemporaries. We would happily trade another argument over who could win a fight for two heroes who challenge each other and eventually enjoy each other’s company.
Key Takeaways
- Gunn says the DCU’s Batman casting is approaching, but the role remains uncast.
- He sees Batman and Superman as roughly the same age.
- That describes the characters, not an exact age requirement for the actors.
HBO Max · October 29, 2026
The Full Story
James Gunn is looking toward a Batman who can stand alongside Superman as a peer. On the October 29 official Suicide Squad podcast, he said casting was approaching and described the characters as being close in age. GamesRadar’s coverage also recounts his emphasis on finding the right performer. No actor has been announced for the role.
The comparison is about Bruce Wayne and Clark Kent. It does not set a birthday cutoff for candidates or require the eventual Batman actor to match David Corenswet’s age. More usefully, it tells us something about the dynamic Gunn has in mind.
When DC announced The Brave and the Bold in 2023, its original premise centered on Bruce and Damian Wayne, with the wider Bat-Family also part of the plan.
Bruce being a parent need not make him Clark’s senior in every sense. The appealing possibility is a Batman who can carry family responsibilities while still meeting Superman on equal terms. Neither man has to spend the whole relationship teaching the other how to be a hero.
The comics have tried very different introductions. DC’s retrospective revisits the shared cruise-ship cabin in Superman #76 and the dispute over Batman’s methods in The Man of Steel #3. The partnership can begin with awkward proximity or outright friction.
What do you want from their first meeting: tension, humor or instant respect?
Latest News
Related
Featured People
David Corenswet portrait: U.S. Embassy in the Philippines / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain. Source. Cropped for display.
