“This contrast just looks natural”: David Corenswet’s Superman Seems Like a Missed Opportunity to Team Up With Robert Pattinson’s Batman That Fans are Still Hoping Would Come True
The DCU is currently going through its reboot phase, where many transformations have taken place recently. When James Gunn and Peter Safran took charge of DC Studios, fans started expecting a new approach towards superheroes. One of them is the much-anticipated upcoming Superman movie, which will introduce David Corenswet as the Man of Steel.
On the other hand, Robert Pattinson has already made an impact among DC fans with Matt Reeves’ The Batman. Its dark and grounded approach was well-received by both the audience and critics, making Pattinson a fitting Batman for the upcoming generation.
Dream team of David Corenswet’s Superman and Robert Pattinson’s Batman
The announcement of David Corenswet as the new Superman in James Gunn’s Superman has paved the way for a new twist in the portrayal of the hero. Gunn and Corenswet have hinted that they are going to portray a brighter version of Superman as compared to Henry Cavill’s version. This could build an interesting dynamic if the characters were teamed up with Robert Pattinson’s darker Batman.
Robert Pattinson has been praised for portraying the complexity and imperfections of Bruce Wayne as well as Batman. This darker, more realistic Batman could therefore help balance the somewhat brighter and more upbeat Superman that Corenswet could become.
As two of the most legendary comic book characters are about to appear on the big screen, it is impossible not to think about the chance of a crossover. The possibility of seeing Corenswet’s Superman on screen alongside Pattinson’s Batman has excited and sparked speculation among fans, despite the hurdles of making this dream team-up possible.
I think David Corenswet's Superman and Robert Pattinson's Batman would've looked really good together.
— Richard (@RichardOcelot) June 24, 2024
This contrast just looks natural. pic.twitter.com/WUy13dKhXP
the collar brothers https://t.co/3GDrHYrDHL
— 𝗛𝗔𝗕𝗜𝗧 𝗕𝗟𝗔𝗖𝗞𝗕𝗘𝗥𝗥𝗬 | I'M MELTING!! 💔 (@habitovin) June 25, 2024
I hope the Batman sequel does so insanely well that they just drop the idea of a separate “DCU Batman” https://t.co/BcGkeAvy3F
— koki (@SamHabla) June 24, 2024
If there's a god he puts these 2 in a movie https://t.co/RGl1RZtQHT
— roy (@newbjorkers) June 25, 2024
Please @JamesGunn, make it possibile. https://t.co/lzdTcyd0pT
— Homeward Bound (@1homewardbound_) June 25, 2024
Corenswet has shown his capability of playing different roles, from lighthearted and charismatic to serious and introspective, in series like The Politician and Hollywood. At the same time, Pattinson has also shown his ability to portray deep, complex characters in movies like The Lighthouse and Good Time.
Still, there are several obstacles that need to be overcome before one can hope for a team-up of both heroes, as both belong to different universes, and bringing them together will need to have a solid storyline built up to that. Though James Gunn has not closed the door to having Pattinson’s version of Batman in the DCU, other circumstances make this possibility less likely as of now.
Why Can’t Robert Pattinson’s Batman Be in the DCU?
The primary cause of the separation between Corenswet’s Superman and Pattinson’s Batman is the creative decision made by Matt Reeves, director of The Batman. In addition to that, James Gunn confirmed in his fan interaction on Threads that The Batman not interacting with the main DCU universe was a call made by Reeves himself, which was viewed positively by DC Studios.
This decision moves The Batman and its sequels to the DC Elseworlds, which is quite different from the regular DC Universe. Moreover, Peter Safran also commented on the current vision of DCU, stating that they are currently focusing on one universe at a time (via DC Comics).
The DCU is a multiverse, but we’re going to be focusing on one universe from that multiverse. And if something isn’t DCU, we’re going to make that very clear. So strictly adult fare, like Todd Phillips’ Joker or kids animation like Teen Titans Go, we’re going to make it very clear that those are DC Elseworlds just the same way they’d be doing in the comic books.
What Reeves did for The Batman was to build a separate Batman storyline, which is not limited to the movies only but also extended to spin-offs like The Penguin TV show. This helps Reeves dive deeper into the character, the world of Batman, and the opportunities of the franchise without being under the pressure of a larger shared universe.
However, although in a separate universe, Gunn has mentioned that he is involved to some extent in DC Elseworlds projects like Joker: Folie à Deux. This gives hope to fans, although Corenswet’s Superman might feel like a lost opportunity to pair him with Robert Pattinson’s Batman.
Superman will be released in theaters on July 11, 2025.
The Batman-Part II will be released in theaters on October 2, 2026.
