Batman and Wonder Woman DCU Movies Won’t Start Until Scripts Are “Fantastic,” Says James Gunn

James Gunn is taking his time with DC’s biggest icons. While Superman is soaring at the box office and Supergirl is already on the schedule for next year, the next two pillars of the DC Universe—Batman and Wonder Woman—are still on the runway. Not because of casting or budgets, but because the scripts aren’t done.

And that’s on purpose.

“It’s not going to be until the scripts are ready. So, both the scripts are being written now, and, if they’re good, then we’ll go into production immediately,” Gunn said in a recent interview with Argentina’s Urbana Play radio.

Gunn emphasized that these characters, more than most, demand careful writing and high standards. He doesn’t want to move forward with anything unless the story is strong enough to support them.

“The one thing I’m just not going to do is go into production without a script that I feel is fantastic, especially for those characters who deserve the best. I’d rather wait a year than go too soon.”

This approach echoes Gunn’s earlier decisions across the new DCU. He previously revealed that Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow moved ahead of other projects because of its “incredible script.” Similarly, the horror-themed Clayface film was greenlit because the screenplay by Mike Flanagan impressed him more than others in line. It’s not about who the character is—it’s about how well the story is told.

Two Batmen, Two Universes

The wait for the new DCU’s Batman isn’t the only Dark Knight delay happening. Over in Matt Reeves’ Elseworlds corner of the DC multiverse, The Batman 2 is also stuck in the script phase. This one is completely separate from Gunn’s shared universe and will continue the noir-focused, grounded tone of Robert Pattinson’s first outing.

Filming for The Batman 2 is scheduled to begin in late 2025, with a release date set for October 1, 2027. The delay pushes the film back five years from the original, with most of the creative team returning. Matt Reeves is directing again, and Robert Pattinson will suit up once more. While story details remain scarce, The Penguin spinoff series is expected to connect directly to the sequel’s events.

In a recent update, Gunn confirmed he had The Batman 2 script in his backpack and was about to read it. So while it's not under his creative control, he’s still keeping an eye on it.

Meanwhile, his focus for the DCU version of Batman is the long-announced The Brave and the Bold, a story that will pair Batman with his son Damian Wayne, who takes on the mantle of Robin. Gunn confirmed the film is still in early development.

“We have a screenwriter who’s hammering away at it,” he said in a July 2025 interview. “I’m very involved… but we’ll see what happens next.”

Wonder Woman Is Still Just a Concept

Compared to Batman, the Wonder Woman update is even more vague. The last film starring Gal Gadot was shelved after a round of major changes at DC. Since then, the new DCU has revealed plans for a complete reboot of the character, though no actress has been officially cast.

Still, Gunn confirmed that a script is actively being written for the character’s return. No timeline has been given, and everything is still very early. He addressed one popular fan-casting choice—Adria Arjona—by saying she’d be a “great” fit, but quickly added that it’s too early to decide.

There is one other Amazon-themed project in the works: Paradise Lost, a prequel series focused on Themyscira and the politics of the Amazons. It’s meant to be a Game of Thrones-style take on the mythology behind Wonder Woman’s homeland. But this show, like the movie reboot, doesn’t yet have a release window.

Gunn’s Strategy: Quality First, Then Filming

So what’s taking so long? According to Gunn, it all comes down to quality control. His new DCU, built under the banner of Chapter One: Gods and Monsters, is trying to avoid the pitfalls of rushed productions and mid-script rewrites that plagued the old regime.

Gunn has shown a pattern: if a script doesn’t excite him, the project stalls. In one case, he scrapped a movie that was ready to shoot simply because the screenplay wasn’t up to standard. So now, even with iconic characters like Batman and Wonder Woman, he’s holding the line.

It’s a strategy that fits the current rhythm at DC Studios. Superman, the first official DCU film under Gunn’s creative direction, opened in theaters on July 11, 2025, with solid performance numbers. And Supergirl, starring Milly Alcock, is already in pre-production. These are the projects with scripts that passed Gunn’s threshold. Others are still being shaped.

Gunn’s slow-build approach comes as Warner Bros. Discovery looks for a long-term blueprint that avoids past stumbles. Delays are frustrating, but the company is clearly investing more time into foundation work. With Marvel’s momentum slowing and audiences becoming more selective about superhero movies, DC is betting that higher-quality storytelling will stand out more than release speed.

It’s also notable that Gunn isn’t rushing the scripts for the two most recognizable DC heroes after Superman. Both Batman and Wonder Woman have seen multiple interpretations over the years, so getting these versions right is more than just symbolic—it’s structural for the new universe.

Even while The Batman 2 stays in its separate world, it still helps the broader brand. Gunn called it “still really important,” showing that Elseworlds projects are valuable too. But when it comes to his mainline DCU, The Brave and the Bold and the new Wonder Woman have to set a tone that lasts.

The new DC Universe is being built brick by brick, and James Gunn isn’t taking shortcuts. With Batman and Wonder Woman still waiting on completed scripts, fans will need patience. But according to Gunn, that’s better than pushing forward with stories that don’t measure up.

In his words:

“I’d rather wait a year than go too soon.”

For DC’s biggest heroes, waiting might actually be the smartest move.