James Gunn recently debunked a rumor that Batman: The Brave and the Bold had been put on hold until the WBD/Paramount merger is settled, but even when (if?) the movie does enter production, will Andy Muschietti be at the helm?
When the news broke that Muschietti had been chosen to helm the project, Gunn and fellow DC Studios co-CEO Peter Safran said they enlisted the filmmaker on the strength of his work on The Flash.
“We saw The Flash even before taking the reins at DC Studios, and knew we were in the hands of not only a visionary director but a massive DC fan,” Gunn and Safran said in a joint statement. “It’s a magnificent film – funny, emotional, thrilling – and Andy’s affinity and passion for these characters and this world just resonates through every frame. So, when it came time to find a director for The Brave and the Bold, there was really only one choice. Luckily, Andy said yes. Barbara signed on to produce with us and we were on our way. They’re an extraordinary team, and we couldn’t have better or more inspiring partners as we embark on this thrilling new adventure in the DCU.”
This was before The Flash hit theaters, and the movie's underperformance at the box office (it actually received a mostly positive critical reception) led to speculation that Muschietti may have been taken off the project.
Last we heard, Muschietti was still attached, but The Hot Mic's John Rocha believes there is no way he will wind up directing the movie.
“The [Andy] Muschietti thing I think is absolutely ridiculous. As I said almost two years ago, he is not on this [project], from my sources who are still connected to WB and DC, he is not doing The Brave and the Bold."
. World of Reel's Jordan Ruimy recently heard that Gunn might be considering taking the helm himself.
"Christina Hodson wrote the latest draft of The Brave and the Bold, and I keep hearing that Gunn is actually considering replacing Muschietti… with himself. Yes, Gunn is apparently tempted to direct the DCU’s Batman movie after helming the first two Superman films. Might as well take this ship down while you’re fully at the wheel."
Ruimy has shared a few significant scoops in the past, along with some reports that turned out to be nonsense. He is also notoriously anti-Gunn, so it's up to you how much stock you want to put in this.
There's also been some resurfaced chatter that Gunn might be planning to introduce an older take on Bruce Wayne (possibly even in his 50s).
Gunn addressed the older Batman rumor during a 2025 interview, when he was asked if DCU's Dark Knight would be in his mid-to-late 30s, given the fact that Damian is typically portrayed as a 10-year-old.
"No, I think you have to wait to see the movie. Some things have changed. Plenty of things are in flux on what his situation is with his parentage and all that stuff, so I wouldn't take any of it–Yeah, I mean, the actor who wants to... Listen, first of all, I can't tell you the amount of big actors that have told me they want to be Batman. I think you'd have a harder time finding actors who don't want to be Batman. He's the one character everyone wants to play. That's the truth."
When asked whether Damian was even still part of the movie, Gunn replied: "I think you have to wait to see exactly what's happening."
Would you like to see Gunn direct The Brave and the Bold? Let us know in the comments.