James Gunn Talks Superman/Batman Age Gap In New DCU

Big changes are afoot for the DCU, and its two most popular heroes, Superman and Batman, are at the center of them. We know that Henry Cavill is out, and that James Gunn will be writing and likely directing Superman: Legacy, which will focus on a younger Man of Steel. As for Batman, The Flash will definitely see the exit of Ben Affleck’s Bruce Wayne, and probably Michael Keaton’s as well. In their stead, a new Batman film, The Brave & the Bold, will introduce Bruce to his son, Damian Wayne.

In a recent Q&A (via THR), Gunn talked about Superman: Legacy and the possible age difference between Superman and Batman…

“He’s working. He’s a reporter. He’s at the Daily Planet,” Gunn said about his take on Superman. “Again, we’re coming into a world where superheroes exist and have existed…So, does that mean Batman might be a couple years older than Superman? Yes, it could be.”

Makes sense. If Batman already has a kid, who in the comics was 10-years-old when introduced, then it should be that Bruce Wayne is in his 30s at the very least. They might even age him up a few more years, especially if other characters such as Nightwing are to show up. You need to believe that Batman has been around a while and there’s a long history of experiences have informed the person he becomes. Not sure you can do that with a Batman who looks like he just got out of college.

Superman: Legacy hits theaters on July 11th 2025.

Travis Hopson has been reviewing movies before he even knew there was such a thing. Having grown up on a combination of bad '80s movies, pro wrestling, comic books, and hip-hop, Travis is uniquely positioned to geek out on just about everything under the sun. A vampire who walks during the day and refuses to sleep, Travis is the co-creator and lead writer for Punch Drunk Critics. He is also a contributor to Good Morning Washington, WBAL Morning News, and WETA Around Town. In the five minutes a day he's not working, Travis is also a voice actor, podcaster, and Twitch gamer. Travis is a voting member of the Critics Choice Association (CCA), Washington DC Area Film Critics Association (WAFCA), and Late Night programmer for the Lakefront Film Festival.