James Gunn Responds to The Batman 2’s Big Villain Rumor

Co-chairman and Co-CEO of DC Studios James Gunn has dismissed rumors about the inclusion of a huge DC villain in The Batman: Part II,

via: Dark Horizon

DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn confirmed today that he’s recording the Director’s Commentary for the home release of his “Superman” film which is expected to arrive on digital sometime later this month (no official date as yet).

The filmmaker posted the update on Threads where he also took the time to address some other reports.

He confirmed Batman casting for “The Brave and the Bold” has not taken place, not unexpectedly, and so it’s likely the character won’t be showing up in next year’s “Clayface” film:

“There’s really no new updates. I mean, we’re working on a script. We have a screenwriter who’s hammering away at it. I’m very involved, and so, you know, we’ll see what happens next. I wish I had more news for you, but I don’t.”

More pertinent is that Gunn also addressed surprisingly persistent rumours that Hush will serve as the main villain of Matt Reeves’ “The Batman Part II”. Talking about the speculation regarding the movie, he says:

“Anything you’ve heard about that movie is made up or a guess. No one in the world knows anything about the concept for the story except four people.”

When asked about Hush directly, he added: “Again everything you’ve heard is a total guess or made up.”

Production on “The Batman Part II” is expected to begin early next year ahead of an October 1st 2027 release.

While I would love to see Hush in a future Batman live action film, and another iteration of Bane (played by Dave Bautista) on the big screen. However, I'm really rooting for the Court of Owls to have their day in the upcoming sequel.

For the uninitiated, the Court of Owls is a super-secret crime organization that has existed since colonial times in Gotham City, woven into the framework of the city's institutions and buildings. There's even a creepy old nursery rhyme that children in Gotham City recite, describing the Court as all-seeing and all-knowing.

The members of this Illuminati-like organization are from Gotham's wealthiest, most ancient, and most powerful families, and they've been controlling the crime in Gotham for centuries. They meet in hidden rooms planted throughout the city, and when they hold court, they wear ghoulish-looking, white owl masks over their faces.

So to see the child of a wealthy family use his resources to dismantle the very foundation his father was a part of would be an interesting angle to explore in the sequel.