James Gunn clarifies Batman’s timeline in new DCU, revealing that Gotham’s infamous mob boss Rupert Thorne is not part of the Caped Crusader’s direct backstory. This update arrives amid a wave of speculation following developments in the animated series Creature Commandos, leaving fans to reconsider key relationships and conflicts within the reimagined DC Universe.
How Gunn’s Clarification Reshapes Batman and Rupert Thorne’s History
When fans noticed inconsistencies between the timeline of Batman’s career and the fate of Rupert Thorne in Creature Commandos, James Gunn, DC Studios co-head, stepped forward to settle the discussion. In the series, scientist Alexander Sartorius, betrayed by Thorne, is transformed into the radioactive villain Doctor Phosphorus, who then murders Thorne and usurps control over his criminal organization. Despite this violent shift in Gotham’s criminal landscape, Batman’s introduction as an adversary to Phosphorus does not occur until well after these events.
On social media, Gunn confirmed:
“It would be silly to assume Phosphorus met Batman the minute after he became Phosphorus. I wouldn’t even trust Phosphorus’ sense of time/proclivity for hyperbole.”
—James Gunn, DC Studios Co-Head
This reinforces the idea that Batman was not immediately active when Phosphorus overthrew Thorne. Phosphorus references a fifteen-year period since his transformation—an assertion that, instead of pinpointing Batman’s arrival, suggests that Phosphorus operated as Gotham’s kingpin for years before encountering the Dark Knight. As a result, Rupert Thorne is effectively erased from having a direct history with Batman in the new DCU, a major shift from previous lore where Thorne often clashed with the Caped Crusader.
Timeline Nuances in Creature Commandos and Their Impact
In Creature Commandos, Doctor Phosphorus seizes Thorne’s criminal assets after murdering him and his family. The animated episode not only chronicles Phosphorus’s violent rise but also indicates that his ultimate arrest comes at Batman’s hands, thus certifying the Dark Knight as an established presence in the same continuity. However, the show stops short of specifying exactly when Batman became Gotham’s protector relative to these criminal upheavals.
Phosphorus’s dramatic claim that he has not been disturbed in “fifteen years” since his metamorphosis, along with his takeover of Thorne’s operations, led to fan theories that Batman must have been fighting crime for a very long time. Gunn’s statements, however, advocate for a more flexible timeline. Instead of establishing immediate cause and effect between Phosphorus’s origin and Batman’s intervention, Gunn leaves open the possibility that Gotham endured a lengthy era ruled by Phosphorus before Batman emerged as the city’s hero. This adjustment significantly shifts how events, such as Rupert Thorne’s murder and Phosphorus’s criminal reign, are linked to Batman’s mythos.
Establishing the New DCU Batman Ahead of Origin Stories
James Gunn’s intention is to present a DCU Batman who is not just beginning his crusade but is already a respected figure in Gotham. Unlike many previous portrayals that focus on Batman’s early days, this version enters the universe already acquainted with his hero responsibilities, similar to how the DCU’s Superman is depicted as an established icon. Gunn has deliberately left much of Batman’s early timeline ambiguous, offering more room for nuanced storytelling instead of repeating his origin.
Integrating Damian Wayne as Robin in the upcoming film The Brave and the Bold further underscores that this Batman has matured both as a crimefighter and as a father. Damian’s presence strongly suggests a prolonged timeline, as Batman would need to have had years of experience and personal history to reach this narrative point. The existence of the Bat-family, including characters like Damian, points toward a world where Batman’s career predates many of the present events within the DCU.
The Challenge of Defining Batman’s Role in a New Universe
With Matt Reeves’s separate Elseworlds Batman films, including Robert Pattinson’s portrayal, running concurrently, Gunn faces the task of differentiating his version of Batman for the DCU. Gunn has clarified that the new Batman will not be portrayed as “campy,” and will possess a unique identity that justifies his place in the interconnected universe of DC Studios.
The script for The Brave and the Bold is considered a top priority for Gunn, alongside a new Wonder Woman project. In developing this iteration of Batman, Gunn and his team are focusing on portraying a hero with sufficient history and gravitas, supporting a dynamic and complex Bat-family rather than a solitary Dark Knight at the beginning of his journey.
What This Means for Gotham’s Criminal Landscape and Classic Villains
Rupert Thorne’s erasure from Batman’s backstory means that audiences will not see the iconic mobster serve as a primary adversary to the Caped Crusader in the new DCU. Instead, Doctor Phosphorus’s reign and his confrontation with Batman are becoming more central to the narrative, reflecting a shift in the types of villains that define Gotham’s criminal world. Benjamin Byron Davis voices Thorne in Creature Commandos, while Alan Tudyk brings Doctor Phosphorus to life, highlighting the significance of these characters in this retelling.
This narrative shift may disappoint fans who enjoyed Batman’s battles with Thorne, but it also signals a departure from traditional formulae and a willingness to explore new storylines and character dynamics. By decoupling Thorne from Batman’s direct history, the DCU invites fresh conflicts and allows for a broader rogues’ gallery to emerge, while keeping long-standing figures like Damian Wayne in prominent roles.
Where the Story Goes Next in the Expanding DCU
Creature Commandos, now available for streaming on HBO Max, acts as both an anchor and a launching pad for the evolving DCU narrative. Gunn’s decisions are establishing the timeline and major conflicts that will inform both upcoming shows and the highly anticipated film, The Brave and the Bold. With careful attention to consistency and character development, Gunn aims to deliver a Batman narrative with depth and originality, even as traditional adversaries like Rupert Thorne are left behind.
As the universe takes shape, fans are encouraged to contemplate the consequences of this new timeline, including the impact on classic relationships, the Bat-family, and Gotham’s underworld. The rest of the DCU will be watching closely as James Gunn and his creative team continue to map out the interconnected fates of heroes and villains in this ambitious reimagining.
