DC Studios just had a rough weekend. Supergirl is now among the biggest box office failures in modern superhero history. That kind of result forces a pivot, and right on cue, talk of a new Batman casting is suddenly everywhere.
The timing isn’t subtle. When one project stumbles, studios lean on what works. Batman still prints attention, and DC knows it. That helps explain why chatter around The Brave and the Bold is heating up fast.
YouTuber John Campea lit the fuse first. He claimed DC has already cast its new Bruce Wayne. He would not name the actor, but he said the choice surprised him. Campea also said he confirmed the information with multiple well-placed sources. He stopped short of going public with the name, which only added fuel.
John Campea says he believes the DCU BATMAN has been cast and that he knows the name.
Multiple sources, including one he calls well positioned, point to the same actor.
“I’m not going to say it right now, but I will say this. It’s not a name I would have guessed.” pic.twitter.com/wdYcze2KgY
— DC Film News (@DCFilmNews) June 28, 2026
Others online showed far less restraint, as English actor Tom Brittney is now the name getting pushed. The Grantchester star has been linked to Batman before, and the rumor fits James Gunn’s pattern of choosing less obvious actors for major roles.
Brittney is not a household name, but he is not unknown. He appeared in Greyhound and has roles in Fall 2: Deadpoint and Black Box. He also made the final round for Superman before losing out to David Corenswet, while Nicholas Hoult took Lex Luthor. That kind of close call suggests Gunn already trusts him.
None of this is confirmed. Still, the rumor has traction because DC fans are getting impatient. The studio has pushed projects like Creature Commandos, Peacemaker, Supergirl, and Clayface ahead of Batman. For many fans, that order makes little sense.
If DC wants to reset the conversation, revealing Batman would do it. A small cameo in Clayface could even serve as a soft launch before The Brave and the Bold hits theaters.
James Gunn continues to stand by his creative team. He previously, bizarrely praised The Flash as one of the greatest superhero films and backed writer Christina Hodson and director Andy Muschietti to handle Batman. Gunn pushed back on critics, saying those attacking Hodson likely have not read her scripts and noting that directors can change a writer’s work significantly.
Gunn has also said the script for The Brave and the Bold is in a good place, though details remain fluid. He hinted that elements of Batman’s story, including his family dynamic, are still evolving. When asked directly about Damian Wayne, Gunn declined to confirm specifics.
There is still no release date for The Brave and the Bold. For now, DC Studios is dealing with a weak box office showing and a growing sense that fans want their Dark Knight back front and center.
***
English (US) · 