Christina Hodson Scripting New Batman Movie: Damian Wayne Debuts 

Screenwriter Christina Hodson is penning The Brave and the Bold, featuring Bruce and Damian Wayne.

Christina Hodson Scripting

Is the world ready for a Batman who is, first and foremost, a struggling father to a pre-teen assassin? For decades, the Caped Crusader has been defined by his solitude or his role as a mentor to orphans.

However, the upcoming DC Studios project The Brave and the Bold is set to upend that dynamic entirely.

Screenwriter Christina Hodson, the creative force behind Bumblebee and Birds of Prey, is currently weaving a narrative that James Gunn describes as a “very strange father-and-son story.”

This isn’t the campy Robin of the 60s or the earnest ward of the 90s. This is Damian Wayne—the biological son Bruce never knew existed, a child raised by the world’s most dangerous killers.

A Measured Evolution 

While fans are eager for casting news, DC Studios is deliberately slowing the tempo. Reports indicate that Hodson has been working on the screenplay since at least the autumn of last year, with heads James Gunn and Peter Safran taking a “measured approach.”

The goal isn’t just to produce a script; it’s to establish the definitive foundation for the new DC Universe (DCU) Batman, separate from the “Elseworlds” version played by Robert Pattinson.

The Damian Wayne Paradigm 

The introduction of Damian Wayne changes the fundamental physics of a Batman movie. Based on Grant Morrison’s seminal comic run, Damian is a “murderous tween” who challenges Bruce’s morality and patience.

Gunn’s blunt description of the character as a “little son of a b****” suggests a film that will explore the friction between Bruce’s code of justice and a son who was taught that killing is a virtue.

This tonal shift marks a departure from the “lonely detective” trope, placing Batman in the one situation he can’t punch his way out of: parenthood.

The Shadows of Gotham

Parallel to Hodson’s work, filmmaker Matt Reeves is diving deeper into his own gritty corner of the mythos with The Batman Part II. Interestingly, Colin Farrell has confirmed that his role as The Penguin will be “even smaller” this time around.

Farrell’s perspective offers a fascinating insight: a smaller role for a fan-favorite villain often signals a more ambitious script. 

He describes the sequel as “deeper” and “scarier,” suggesting that Reeves is moving beyond the “villain-of-the-week” structure to focus on the escalating psychological stakes of Gotham City.

Farrell, a self-proclaimed fan of the universe since the Burgess Meredith era, noted that the sequel continues to honor the “struggles of the city” while questioning the very nature of Bruce Wayne’s identity.

The Two-Batman Strategy 

The coexistence of Hodson’s father-son epic and Reeves’ psychological horror proves that Batman is a versatile enough vessel to hold multiple interpretations simultaneously. 

While Pattinson explores the “shadow” of Bruce Wayne, the DCU Batman will have to deal with the legacy of his own bloodline.

By the time Hodson delivers her definitive draft, the DCU will have a version of the Dark Knight that feels entirely fresh—not because of the suit or the gadgets, but because of the “son of a b****” standing beside him.

Key Summary Points

• The Project: Christina Hodson is writing The Brave and the Bold for the new DCU.
• The Plot: The story focuses on Bruce Wayne and his son, Damian Wayne, based on Grant Morrison’s comics.
• Production Status: DC Studios is taking a “measured approach” to the script development.
• The Batman II: Colin Farrell promises a “deeper and scarier” sequel despite his smaller role as Penguin.