Late 2027, if the script lands
The Brave and the Bold is reportedly targeting a late 2027 start of principal photography, according to insider ApocHorseman, backed by Cartier Films reporting, which says DC Studios is aiming for late 2027. That target depends on nailing the script, after a change in writers, and it is not a confirmed start date, so treat it as a reported aim, not as a locked schedule.
James Gunn has repeatedly said he will not green light a film without a polished script, and he has said there is really no new update beyond a screenwriter hammering away at it. That patience frustrates fans, but it is Gunn's core rule, and it has already shaped the DCU, where films move when scripts are ready, not when release slots open.
If production does begin in late 2027, casting could start early next year, turning the search for the new Bruce Wayne into one of pop culture's biggest stories. Until then, every name you see, from Alan Ritchson to Jonathan Bailey to Jensen Ackles, is fan speculation or unconfirmed reporting, not a DC Studios announcement.
Damian Wayne, and a Batman with a family
The Brave and the Bold will introduce a rebooted Batman with an established Bat-Family, including Damian Wayne as Robin, Bruce Wayne's son, drawing on Grant Morrison's Batman and Son comic run. That choice sets the DCU Batman apart from every film Batman before him, because he is not a lone beginner. He is a father, already, with a son who is also a trained killer.
Damian is a difficult character to get right, arrogant, violent, funny, and vulnerable, often in the same scene, and his dynamic with Bruce, who must parent a child raised by assassins, is the film's emotional core. A film that nails Damian will feel fresh, even to fans who have seen many Batmen. A film that softens him into a cute sidekick will feel like a missed opportunity.
Andy Muschietti, who directed The Flash, was attached in June 2023, but he later revealed the film had been postponed, and recent reporting says it is still unclear whether he remains attached. Gunn has not confirmed Muschietti's current status in the sources used here, so treat his involvement as previously attached, not as currently confirmed.
Why Gunn will not rush two Batmen
Gunn has said he does not want two Batman movies in the same year, and that he would not want to cloud the Batsphere until after Matt Reeves The Batman Part II is out. Part II, starring Robert Pattinson outside DCU continuity, is currently set for February 18, 2028, after earlier dates in October 2027, with production recently paused as Reeves stepped away for personal reasons, according to DC priority reporting.
That timing shapes Brave and the Bold directly. If Part II lands in February 2028, a DCU Batman film in the same year would clash, in marketing, in audience attention, and in the simple question, which Batman is which. Gunn's solution is to wait, let Part II have its moment, then introduce his Batman, even if that pushes Brave and the Bold to late 2028 or later for release.
Director Muschietti has also pushed back on fan casting storms, telling CinemaBlend he is curious who fans want, but that the team gets to pick its cast. That comment is a useful reality check, because fan polls do not cast films, and Gunn's team will pick a Bruce Wayne who fits Damian, the Bat-Family, and the wider DCU, not just a popular name.
The Skydance factor, and the priority list
A recent report on Gunn's ten DC movie priorities after the Skydance merger lists Brave and the Bold as still in early development, under writer Christina Hodson and director Muschietti, as previously attached. The report also notes scooper Jeff Sneider's claim that the film is further along than most fans think, and could start filming in 2027, which aligns with the late 2027 target, but still depends on the script.
The same priority list shows DC Studios has over 21 movies and shows in development, with Man of Tomorrow in post-production for July 9, 2027, and Clayface arriving October 23, 2026 in that timeline. Brave and the Bold must compete with those projects for resources, and Gunn's focus, which is why a script-first approach matters even more.
A separate rumour claimed the DCU Batman could be revealed in Man of Tomorrow, but that is unconfirmed, and Gunn has not announced it. Treat it as a fun possibility, not as a plan, because revealing Batman in another hero's film would be a huge marketing choice, and DC Studios would likely save it for a dedicated announcement.
What to expect next, realistically
Expect a script update first, then a director confirmation, then casting, in that order, because that is Gunn's process. If late 2027 filming holds, expect casting news in early 2027, or possibly late 2026, with a release likely in late 2028 at the earliest, depending on Part II's final date and Gunn's no-two-Batmen rule.
Until then, watch The Batman for Reeves grounded Gotham, Lanterns for Gunn's DCU tone, and Man of Tomorrow in July 2027 for the wider DCU build. Those three will tell you more about the new Batman's world than any casting rumour, because they show the two Gothams, Reeves and Gunn's, that Brave and the Bold must distinguish itself from, and live up to.
Sources and reporting
- Fiction Horizon — 2026 · Verifies the late 2027 shoot target, Damian Wayne, and no cast confirmed
- The Direct — 2026 · Verifies early development status, Hodson and Muschietti attachment history, and Part II February 2028 date
- The Popverse — January 2026 · Verifies Gunn waiting for a script and not wanting two Batman films in one year
