With James Gunn promising a bold, fantastical take on Gotham’s protector, here’s what could make The Brave and the Bold the most complete Batman film yet.
James Gunn put out Batman: The Brave and the Bold in 2023. It was the new Dark Knight’s first solo movie in the DC Universe. Ever since, people have been getting more and more excited about what could be the biggest live-action version of Batman yet. Gunn has said many times that this Batman will be different from all the others because it will take place in a world full of superheroes, magical threats, and lively comic-book energy.
This movie will fully embrace the mythos, from detective genius to magical stories, unlike The Batman, which was based on gritty reality, or the Nolan trilogy, which was based on stylized darkness. People may see a “complete” Batman on screen for the first time: a hero who is part scientist, part martial artist, and part icon.
Gunn loves all of Batman’s sides: the world’s best detective, the best fighter, and the mythical hero steeped in magical mystery. This shows that the project will honor all of Batman’s eras. More importantly, this version will include the Bat-Family, recognizing the hero’s long history of friends and enemies who are often left out of big movies.
Gotham that seems bigger than life.
Fans want Gotham City to feel both dark and grand as the first thing they want. The settings of the movie should be reminiscent of Batman’s mythology: dark, gloomy, and mysterious, yet full of life and color. You could compare Burton’s creepy skylines to Schumacher’s bright lighting signs. This combination makes Gotham look like a separate character.
The same amount of creativity should be seen in other important settings besides Gotham. The Batcave or Ra’s al Ghul’s hidden temple in the Himalayas should feel huge, like the kind of movie building that makes you realize the world is bigger than your own. Fans also want a real Batcave with prizes like the big penny and the dinosaur, and proud displays of old suits.
So far, the set pictures that have been released to show how Gotham will look are very promising. They show a mix of old and new styles that could make the perfect movie, Gotham.
A striking score is an important part of any great Batman movie. Fans want music that sounds like the famous Batman: The Animated Series, maybe even one that Danny Elfman and Shirley Walker worked on together. The show’s orchestral brilliance did a better job of capturing Batman’s lore than any other medium. Bringing it up to date for the DCU would be the perfect musical tribute.
The Brave and the Bold could change Batman’s theme song in the same way that Superman 2025 changes John Williams’ famous theme song. A big, brassy score could help this movie stand out while also giving it its own sound.
Accept the supernatural side of Gotham.
The movie’s bad guys are another important assumption. Now that we know Damian Wayne is Robin, the League of Assassins, led by Ra’s al Ghul, seems like a good choice for bad guys. Fans hope this means a real acceptance of the fantastic, including magical pits, fighters who never die, and scary hybrid threats like Man-Bat ninjas.
The DCU has already shown that it can handle the silly side of comic books with Creature Commandos and Superman. That energy should be used in The Brave and the Bold, which should mix horror, magic, martial arts, and the realistic drama that makes Batman’s story what it is.
Damian Wayne and his way of life.
Damian Wayne isn’t just another helper; he’s a trained killer who is 10 years old. For people to believe how skilled he is, the movie needs to show flashbacks to how hard his childhood was under the League. Damian’s background includes learning martial arts before he could write and facing Man-Bats when he was young. This is why he can hold his own with Batman.
The movie shouldn’t water this down. Damian’s coming should feel earned—like the result of years of hard work and danger, not just a lucky event.
Suits and styles that are pretty accurate.
After decades of redesigns with armor, fans want things to go back to how they were in the comics. The DCU Batman could finally be told apart from other Batmans by getting a sleek suit with dark blue-gray tones and a simple shape. It’s not about making him believable; it’s about making him famous.
The rest of the Bat Family is the same way. Nightwing, Tim Drake, Oracle, and Damian should all have true, bright costumes that show who they are instead of making them blend in. A Batman that shines in the light and goes away in the dark would perfectly show how complicated his personality is.
A family of Bats that feel real.
The Brave and the Bold will show Batman’s whole family for the first time in a live-action movie. Even if not all of them show up, the viewer should know who lives in this world—at the very least, Nightwing, Oracle, Tim Drake, and Alfred.
Given Bane’s proven role in the DCU, Azrael’s presence also seems likely. His past as Batman’s temporary replacement could be brought up even if he doesn’t show up. Because of this, the DCEU Batman movies can have something that Marvel hasn’t been able to match: a heroic reputation that lasts for generations.
Red Hood live action?
Jason Todd’s absence, or rather, his memory, could be one of the most moving parts of the movie. Fans all agree that Under the Red Hood should have its own movie, but The Brave and the Bold could be the start of that story. As Damian looks at Jason’s memorialized Robin suit, it could be the start of one of the most anticipated plots in the DCU.
It’s a cinematic slow burn that would pay off in a big way later on, making Gotham’s past into a story that is alive and changing.
Superhuman strength, Humanity at heart.
In the books, Batman fights like a super-soldier, even though he is a person. The DCU should finally show this, with full-on gliding and grappling scenes through Gotham’s skyline, as well as acrobatic fights and kicks that break through walls.
People haven’t seen Batman move like he does in comic books in decades. Now is the time for parkour, jumps, and fight scenes that only a man who knows every martial art could do. Nightwing should really shine, spinning and vaulting through the city with ease.
Family, leave behind, and the man in the mask.
At its core, The Brave and the Bold has a chance to look at Bruce Wayne as a father, a guide, and a flawed man who has to balance two worlds. This has never been done in a Batman movie before. The movie can get to the emotional heart of the Bat-Family, from Dick Grayson’s desire to be alone to Alfred’s advice as a father to Damian’s search for who he is.
Where does Batman end and Bruce Wayne begin? This could be the story’s main question. This kind of inner struggle is used a lot in comics, but it hasn’t been shown much in live-action movies. Showing a Batman who is aware of his feelings but still haunted could finally make him more likable without hurting his legend.
The Brave and the Bold could change the way people think about Batman for a new generation if James Gunn’s DCU delivers on these things: visual spectacle, mythic storytelling, real family relationships, and comic-true aesthetics.
Through a mix of detective noir, magical adventure, and touching family drama, this movie may tell the fullest Batman story ever.
