DC’s Movie Future Only Works With Pattinson AND Affleck

A recent THR interview with Warner Brothers Discovery head David Zaslav about the DCU confirms that the studio is cutting down on the number of men playing the Caped Crusader, noting “that there’s not going to be four Batmans.” The comment suggests a continued effort to create a more unified DC Universe of movies, TV shows, and games featuring DC heroes. Over the past decade, there have been a growing number of continuities and different actors playing the same character. However, it would be a major mistake to feature only one Batman going forward, as both Robert Pattinson and Ben Affleck’s versions of the character are essential to the future of the DC Universe.

Over the last decade Affleck has portrayed Bruce Wayne in DCEU crossover movies Batman v. Superman and Justice League. Matt Reeves’ The Batman was originally intended to be the first solo movie for Ben Affleck’s Batman, but eventually became a story set in a separate universe starring Robert Pattinson. Michael Keaton also reprised his classic Batman performance in filming Batgirl and The Flash, but the former movie was canceled, and the latter is scheduled for release but seems questionable given the legal issues surrounding Ezra Miller. All of this could quite reasonably make Zaslav and other Warner top brass concerned about brand confusion. However, having two different versions of the character is necessary for maintaining what makes the DCEU unique.

RELATED: The DCU Can Still Fix One Awkward Ben Affleck Batman Record

Pattinson’s The Batman 2 Needs To Happen

Work has already begun on a sequel to 2022’s The Batman, and it would be a shame to cancel the return of Robert Pattinson’s acclaimed take on Bruce Wayne. The first film was arguably the best superhero film of 2022, managing to stand out from the many reboots that have promised a darker Batman with a more grounded and realistic take on the character. The Batman was also a major commercial success. It would be foolish for Warner not to follow up on a version of Batman that resonated with both audiences and critics just because it didn’t fit in the grand plan of a unified DC universe.

The Batman also left plenty of plot threads that a sequel can follow up on. A sequel can focus on the next step in Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne character arc after rejecting the philosophy of pure vengeance that motivated him for much of the first movie. The ending of The Batman also teased Barry Keoghan as a future Joker, which deserves a follow-up. With all the DCEU cancelations over the years, the last thing the franchise needs is more teases that never lead to anything.

The Batman Is Better Off Separate From The DCU

Given the success of The Batman, there may be a natural temptation to fit it into the DC Universe, but this would take away what makes Pattinson’s Batman special. The Batman was a success in part because it was a singular vision that grounded Batman’s universe, avoiding costumed villains and supernatural powers. Having it take place in a world where Wonder Woman and Green Lantern are running around would undercut the sense of realism that Reeves built up in his film.

Another thing that set The Batman apart was that it was a singular story without any need to set up spin-offs such as Black Adam’s DCU Easter Eggs. It’s easy to imagine a DCU The Batman 2 bogged down by the need to incorporate itself into a collective story and build for future movies. Leaving Pattinson’s Batman alone will help it to be a more coherent and singular story.

RELATED: The Batman’s Ending Makes A Superman In This Universe Pointless

The DCU Needs A Batman (& It Has To Be Affleck’s)

At the same time, no unified DC Universe would be complete without one of the company’s biggest heroes. Affleck’s Batman was designed to appear in crossover movies, being a more straightforward and familiar take on the character than Pattinson’s brooding millennial. This would make him the best choice for future DCU projects, as using either an alternate-universe version of Pattinson’s Batman or a third actor would be overly confusing.

Henry Cavill’s return as Superman also makes Affleck the most likely candidate for Batman. With Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman and Jason Momoa’s Aquaman also likely to have a continued presence in the new DC Universe under James Gunn and Peter Safran, it appears WB is still interested in using the cast from the Zack Snyder-led DCEU, even if it has abandoned that creative direction. Having a different Batman than Affleck would only be disruptive to that vision.

The best future for the DC Universe on screen is one with a strong core interconnected universe that still leaves open the possibility of stand-alone projects like The Batman and Joker that can attract top directors and writers. Having both Ben Affleck and Robert Pattinson play different versions of Batman would help make that vision clear. So, while Zaslav may not want four Batmen for the DCU, he needs at least two.

NEXT: Ben Affleck’s Batman’s Perfect Robin Would Fix A DCU Superman Problem