The DCU is in another state of change as the latest slate was announced by co-CEO James Gunn at the end of last month. Among these announcements were a new Superman film, a Batman and Robin outing, Supergirl, Swamp Thing, The Authority, and more.
Of these announcements, Superman: Legacy, as it will be titled, seemingly generated far and away the most attention. It’s been a number of years since Superman was seen on the big screen in a meaningful capacity, and 10 years since his last solo outing. Meanwhile, Gunn confirmed that the Elseworld projects include Todd Phillips’ Joker films and Matt Reeves’ ever-expanding Batman universe. The latter world is extremely grounded, so it makes sense that Robert Pattinson’s Batman is away from the larger DC universe. Still, there have been a couple of interesting hints at a larger DC world within Reeves’ Batverse, particularly towards the character of Superman. If the Man of Steel himself were to be in that universe, it’s likely that it would again be a unique take on the character, particularly when it comes to the realism and brooding nature of the world.
These teases of the possible existence of Superman in the new Batverse come from a few different places, and interestingly enough, both involve Paul Dano’s villainous Riddler. In The Batman, the Riddler’s apartment was raided at the end of the second act, revealing a cesspool of bizarre items and even the presence of several very real bats. There were newspapers everywhere, and some eagle-eyed fans spotted a reference to Metropolis in the text of some of the articles. In the Riddler prequel comic, which was written by Paul Dano, there are more very subtle details pointing to Metropolis and even the presence of a flying man in the sky.
At this stage, it’s totally unclear if Superman will ever actually appear in this world or if these are nothing more than some fun easter eggs for fans. Still, it’s an interesting concept, and one that is perhaps pre-determined by the realism and unique nature of this universe that Matt Reeves created. Gotham is a dark, gothic city, and is clearly meant to invoke some older European locations (hence why it was filmed in Glasgow, Liverpool, and London). That very much matches up with what Gotham is like in the comics, it must be noted, but is very different from Christopher Nolan’s depiction of the city. That version was filmed in Chicago and Pittsburgh, and little was done to remove some of the most iconic landmarks from those locations.
So, if Superman was in this universe, it would appear that they would go in another darker direction, simply to match with what Matt Reeves is doing with the character of Batman. That’s not to say that Metropolis would be a desolate city or the Man of Steel a hopeless hero, but rather that the world is portrayed more closely to ours rather than the sunshine and light that many of Superman comics show. Yes, it's important to note that Metropolis does have a number of threatening villains in the comics, from political figures like Lex Luthor to monsters such as Doomsday, but it's always portrayed as a happy place (certainly moreso than the brooding Gotham City).
That’s also not to say that the depiction of the actual Superman character would be similar to the approach seen in Zack Snyder’s DC films. That direction caused quite a bit of controversy, not necessarily because of the darkness of the tone but because Superman was more of a moral debate rather than a symbol of hope. Matt Reeves’ Batman character is certainly a symbol of hope himself, especially by the end of the first film, so there’s no reason why Superman can’t be the same. The world can be dark, and Metropolis might not be as rich or flashy at it is in the comics, but Superman can still act as an inspiration if he was to appear in this universe.
In terms of the probability of a Superman coming into this world, the Elseworlds label essentially makes anything possible. It wasn't too long ago that DC were extremely hesitant to allow multiple live-action versions of the same character at the same time, but their approach has clearly changed. The DCU will have their own Batman at the same time as Robert Pattinson, and the JJ Abrams produced Superman film is still reportedly in development. Robin will also be a part of the new universe, and many suspect that the sidekick hero will also appear alongside Pattinson at some point. So, while Gunn's new version of Superman might be the hero of the main universe, it's still totally possible that the Man of Steel can appear in other worlds.
For now, though, it’s unclear whether the Man of Steel himself will actually come into the proceedings in Reeves’ world. Superman is certain to return to the big screen in 2025, though, in a film currently being written by James Gunn. There’s even been some talk of Gunn possibly directing that film, which could be a good sign, particularly as it’s a huge show of confidence in his vision for the character and this new universe from the studio.
