James Gunn Shuts Down Batman Delay Rumours as Paramount–Warner Bros. Merger Stalls
James Gunn has a message for anyone worried that corporate uncertainty is slowing down the next wave of DC films: "Nothing is on hold."
The Paramount–Warner Bros. merger is at a standstill, according to Deadline. But Gunn, who co-runs DC Studios alongside Peter Safran, says the development slate for the rebooted DC Universe is proceeding regardless.
Gunn took particular aim at a report claiming that director Andy Muschietti had said work on the Batman film The Brave and the Bold was paused. He called the project "in no way on hold," according to Deadline. Muschietti remains attached to direct, with Christina Hodson set to write the screenplay.
The Brave and the Bold is one of the centrepiece projects of what Gunn and Safran have branded "DCU Chapter One: Gods and Monsters," the overarching plan the pair laid out after taking the reins of DC Studios in 2022. The film pairs Batman with his son, Damian Wayne, as Robin — a boy who does not yet know the superhero is his father. It is a separate project from Matt Reeves' The Batman franchise, though Gunn has said DC Studios loves Reeves as a director and producer, responding to a fan question on his Threads account (source: Threads, date unknown).
Casting for the DCU's Batman has not yet begun, Gunn noted on Threads (source: Threads, date unknown).
Meanwhile, the DCU is already building connective tissue on screen. Lanterns, the HBO Max series that premiered this year and airs Sundays at 9 p.m. (source: Threads, published 2026-06-01 GMT), is set in the same shared universe and may be laying groundwork for the future Batman film. In the premiere episode, Kelly Macdonald's character Kerry Kane reveals she is from Gotham City — the same place as the Dark Knight, according to Deadline.
The feature pipeline is moving as well. Following the summer release of Supergirl, Gunn will return to David Corenswet's Clark Kent in Superman: Man of Tomorrow, set to open on 9 July 2027, per Deadline. Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav has said the sequel already looks "amazing." Gunn himself pinned a Threads post captioned "Fit check. Live from the set of Man of Tomorrow" in June 2026 (source: Threads, published 2026-06-01 GMT), signalling production was underway.
For fans, the takeaway is straightforward. The merger noise has not reached the production calendar. Scripts are being written, episodes are airing, and release dates are holding firm.
