Five Indisputable Reasons Matt Reeves’ Batman Should Not Join James Gunn’s DCU

It’s the crossover some fans are wanting and some executives might be tempted to consider. However, others, like myself, are shouting a firm “No!” at the idea.

Ever since James Gunn took the reins of DC Studios and announced a rebooted DC Universe (DCU), rumors have swirled about possibly folding Matt Reeves’ Batman saga (starring Robert Pattinson) into this new shared continuity.

While those few who want it to happen only do because of their appreciation and love for that iteration. I am going to highlight five indisputable reasons… backed by fan sentiment and solid arguments… why merging these worlds would spell disaster.

Look, the gritty realism of Matt Reeves’ The Batman clashes with the brighter, more fantastical tone of James Gunn’s emerging DCU .

One could argue that a moody, noir Batman doesn’t belong alongside aliens and metahumans in the same universe… So let’s get into it.

1. Tonal Clash: Noir Grit vs. Fantastical Superheroes

Matt Reeves’ Batman universe thrives on grounded, gritty realism. The Batman (2022) was essentially a detective noir/crime thriller… which is a far cry from the colorful, superpowered spectacle we are expecting in most of James Gunn’s DCU.

Forcing these two tones together would be like mixing oil and water. The dark, brooding atmosphere of Reeves’ Gotham would be utterly undermined by the presence of aliens, metahumans, or over the top comic book elements.

Even James Gunn himself acknowledged this risk, noting that asking Reeves to integrate “MCU-ish overt mods” into his grounded world could “spoil the tone” of what makes The Batman special.

Fans agree too! The idea of Pattinson’s vengeful, street-level Batman fighting alongside (or against) godlike heroes feels inherently wrong.

One incredulous fan gave a vivid example,

“The dark, realistic, gritty tone of The Batman… and then a super powered dog flies in and ruins it. I love The Batman and I love the new Superman, but keep them separate.”

In short, Reeves’ noir Batman and Gunn’s high flying DCU would tonally clash, doing a disservice to both.

2. Undermining Reeves’ Self-Contained Epic

Matt Reeves has a grand plan for his Batman saga, often referred to as the “Epic Crime Saga.”

It isn’t just one movie but an entire storyline unfolding across The Batman films and spin offs like the Mega HIT Penguin HBO series.

Reeves has hinted that his sequel(s) will continue delving into Gotham’s corruption and may even introduce shadowy elements… Possibly something like the Court of Owls. Seeds already teased for attentive fans.

Integrating this storyline into the broader DCU mid stream would derail the narrative. It could force awkward detours or premature conclusions just to line up with DCU canon.

An editorial on the subject put it plainly,

“Reeves’ story is too good to end or have it merge with the DCU… it would feel narratively unnatural.”

Reeves himself has expressed how important it is to “play out” the story he set out to tell, and he’s thankful that Gunn and co-CEO Peter Safran are allowing him to do just that on his own terms superherohype.com.

In other words, Reeves’ Batman saga was conceived as a self contained narrative… Forcing it to serve a bigger crossover universe would cheapen its carefully built momentum and betray the creative vision behind it.

3. Continuity Chaos and the Bat-Family Conundrum

Merging Pattinson’s Batman into the DCU isn’t just a tonal problem… It’s a continuity nightmare.

Reeves’ version of Batman is only in Year 2 of his career (a younger, still evolving Bruce Wayne with no Robin, no Justice League ties, etc.).

Meanwhile, James Gunn’s DCU is already planning to introduce its own Batman in the upcoming The Brave and the Bold…A version explicitly further along in his story, complete with a Robin.

In fact, The Brave and the Bold is rumored to draw from Grant Morrison’s comics and focus on Bruce Wayne’s turbulent relationship with his son Damian Wayne as Robin, even promising to introduce the wider “Bat-Family” of Gotham heroes.

None of that exists in Reeves’ universe. If Pattinson’s younger Batman were shoehorned in as the DCU Batman, all those rich Bat Family elements would have to be erased or severely delayed.

An analysis of this scenario noted that the Bat-family would effectively “have to be nonexistent” in the shared universe if Pattinson’s solitary Batman is transplanted over, meaning beloved characters like Nightwing, Batgirl, or Red Hood couldn’t properly appear.

Fans have been waiting years to see these sidekicks and allies join a Batman on screen. And sacrificing that just to make one version of Batman fit the mold would be a huge step backward.

The timeline simply doesn’t line up… We’d either negate Bruce’s entire supporting cast or introduce confusing time jumps.

In short, integrating Reeves’ Batman would create more continuity problems than it solves, especially when it comes to the Bat family’s inclusion (or exclusion) in the DCU.

4. The DCU Needs Its Own Batman (Built for a Shared Universe)

Another reason integration is completely unnecessary… James Gunn’s DCU has the opportunity to craft its own Batman that fits perfectly into a world of superhumans, rather than trying to retrofit Pattinson’s version.

Each interpretation of Batman brings something new, and the DCU’s version can be tailored to complement characters like Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lanterns, etc. Fans are actually excited to see a fresh take. One that can dive into the weirder, more fantastical side of Batman’s lore that Reeves’ realism wouldn’t allow.

As one fan editorial observed, we’ve already gotten a “gritty realistic Batman” (in Reeves’ films) and a brutal brawler (Ben Affleck’s take). What we haven’t seen yet is a “high-tech ninja Batman” who uses all manner of gadgets and advanced tech to stand shoulder to shoulder with gods and aliens. That kind of Batman… think a Batman who could credibly fight Parademons, sci-fi threats like Brainiac, or supernatural foes… would perfectly suit Gunn’s “Gods and Monsters” DCU chapter.

By contrast, Pattinson’s gear and scope are limited to homemade suits, simple gliders, and muscle cars.

As one analysis bluntly stated, “this Batman is simply too realistic to exist alongside Kryptonians, Themyscirans, and Green Lanterns”, noting how hard it is to imagine him taking on Parademons or Amazo in a Justice League scenario.

Why limit the DCU’s storytelling potential? Let Reeves keep his grounded Caped Crusader, and let the DCU introduce a new comic accurate Batman with the full arsenal… Specifically one who can plausibly team up with super powered peers without breaking immersion.

This way, fans get the best of both worlds… Reeves can continue his acclaimed noir saga, and the DCU can have a Batman unshackled by realist constraints.

5. Fans Value Variety – And Many Don’t Want a Merger

Despite a vocal subset of the internet calling for “One Batman to rule them all,” the truth is that fan opinion is deeply split on this issue… and a huge number of DC fans don’t want to see Reeves’ Batman pulled into the mainstream timeline.

Even James Gunn has gently pushed back on the notion that “all DC fans” demand Pattinson’s inclusion, quipping that “‘All’ would seem to be pushing it.”

In reality, for every fan on Twitter or YouTube saying “merge them,” there’s another passionately arguing to keep them separate. Why? Because we fans appreciate variety and context. We can handle multiple versions of our favorite heroes if it means each version gets to shine.

Look at how well audiences understood the concept of Elseworlds in DC films, Todd Phillips’ Joker exists in its own pocket universe and earned massive acclaim (and an Oscar) completely apart from the DCEU.

Reeves’ Batman was similarly branded an “Elseworlds” tale by DC Studios to signal it’s a standalone vision. Having parallel Batmen, one in his own critically acclaimed noir franchise, and another eventually joining the Justice League.

This is not a weakness for DC, it’s a strength. As one fan eloquently put it in a Reddit discussion, you could probably wedge Pattinson’s character into the DCU if you really tried, but you “can’t make the ReevesVerse films fit in the DCU without basically [messing] over its entire tone and artistic vision.”

In other words, a forced merger would please a portion of fans but alienate many others who value what makes each universe unique. The general audience is savvy enough to track multiple continuities… They don’t mind that The Batman and the upcoming DCU Batman are separate, as long as each story is good.

In fact, keeping them separate might avoid greater confusion and franchise fatigue in the long run. Fans overwhelmingly want quality stories over corporate synergy, and in this case that means letting Reeves’ Batman continue on its own path. Or, to quote another fan’s plea.

“Bad idea. Keep ’em separate and give us good stories.”

James Gunn and Matt Reeves are both brilliant creatives charting exciting but very different courses for DC’s Dark Knight.

Forcing those courses to converge would only diminish their individual strengths.

Reeves’ Batman saga offers us a dark, artfully crafted Gotham grounded in crime epics, while Gunn’s DCU promises a sprawling, interconnected playground of superheroes.

We as fans can enjoy both… but only if they remain separate.

Integrating Pattinson’s Batman into the DCU would not only create tonal and narrative chaos, it would also rob audiences of the diverse flavors that make DC’s multiverse so rich.

The verdict from the Bat fan community is clear…

Keep the Reevesverse in its own nightmarish Gotham, and let the DCU forge a new Batman legend on its own. Anything else would be, in a word, batastrophic.