A major talking point from James Gunn's announcements over the DC Universe film slate was the plan for Batman. Gunn confirmed Warner Bros. would have Matt Reeves' The Batman as an Elseworlds story, while the mainstream universe would focus on The Brave and the Bold.

The intention is to mine Grant Morrison's run, focusing on Bruce and Damian Wayne. It's an interesting approach because, outside of animation and comics, not much has been done with Damian as Robin. However, while many assume The Brave and the Bold might be a new Bat franchise for the DCU filled with many father-son stories, it could end up being a one-shot, which honestly wouldn't be a terrible idea.

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The Brave and the Bold Could Kill Batman

Cover art for Batman RIP

Now, a major part of that seminal run was Bruce dying in Batman R.I.P. and Dick Grayson taking over the cowl. He further trained Damian and aided in the trauma arc, bringing out the kid's humanity. This grief angle freshened up the lore, as many wanted to see Dick evolve from being a Boy Wonder into Nightwing and now, a Batman. It felt like he was owed the mantle, which brought nuance, layers and a whole new dimension from the brooding Bruce of old.

Thus, if Gunn and company truly want to differentiate from that grizzled Batman (which Ben Affleck already did in the Snyderverse), it'd make sense to kill the DCU's new Caped Crusader in a similar arc. This opens the door for a sequel having a mature Dick as Damian's brother/mentor. It's a compelling way of shaking up the status quo and not saturating the market with too much Bruce, as he'll be in the books and Reeves' world, potentially with other sidekicks.

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The Brave and the Bold Creates a New Bat Family

Bruce being dead also allows a fresh dynamic for the Bat Family. Fans are accustomed to seeing them listening to (or disobeying) his orders, but apart from the Gotham Knights game, not much has been touched on regarding them adapting to his death. The Gotham Knights TV show has a diluted spin on this, but Dick working with Damian, corralling a violent Red Hood/Jason Todd, working with Barbara and Jim Gordon, and bringing out the detective in Tim Drake has more drama to it, as they're all his 'sons.' Plus, the shadow of the Bat and Bruce as a ghost both add a new level of intimidation and awe.

Fans have seen origin stories surrounding around Bruce Wayne and his charges for years, especially in cartoons and animated movies, so Gunn shouldn't want to rinse, repeat and be repetitive in his DCU. Fans already know the foundation Batman has laid, so Warner Bros. can move past the Bruce legacy and into how the dynasty reconfigures. That's a more intriguing direction, having them rudderless against new monsters like the Man-Bat, butchers like Pyg, or even against Damian clones led by Talia and Ra's al Ghul. The point is, living up to an absent Bruce is the kind of mental test that'd create a new brand for the future while still keeping the option open for the franchise to pull him out from the time loop the comics threw him into. Ultimately, this sort of rejigging is brave, bold and makes the series as unpredictable as ever.