DCU Batman Movie Reveals The First Look At Wayne Manor & Arkham Asylum (With 1 Key Change)

Batman‘s next spinoff movie has revealed the first tease of iconic Gotham City locations, and there is a major change that might finally stand as proof that a DC theory is not going to pan out. There are many Batman projects on the way. For instance, 2025 will see the release of Batman’s next movie, Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires.

While the Dark Knight’s future includes the animated film, DC is also exploring the character and his mythos in a few different ways through live-action Batman movies and spinoffs. Robert Pattinson returns in The Batman 2 in 2027, with Batman’s The Brave and the Bold movie as part of the DCU. Before them, a Batman villain movie will be released.

DCU Batman Villain Movie Offers First Look At Key Gotham City Locations

An A.R.G.U.S. convoy arrives at Arkham Asylum

Batman has one of the best rogues’ galleries in comic books, if not the very best one. Recently, the first Joker film, which grossed over $1 billion, showed the potential Batman villains have when done right. James Gunn’s DC Universe is investing in that, with Clayface set to release on September 11, 2026, practically a year from today.

Clayface stars Tom Rhys Harries as the Batman villain. With filming underway, X user @jackkdoylee shared a few set pH๏τos from the DCU Batman villain movie. In them, the map of the franchise’s version of Gotham City can be seen. The set pH๏τos reveal key Gotham locations for the DCU, like Wayne Manor, Wayne Industries, Arkham Asylum, and Ace Chemical.

The DCU’s Gotham City Map Is A Blow To The Batman Merger Theories

Robert Pattinson's Batman in close-up in The Batman — Robert Pattinson’s Batman in close-up in The Batman

The new DCU Gotham City map goes against fan theories that The Batman universe could merge with the new DC Universe, allowing for Robert Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne to meet David Corenswet’s Superman and other DCU heroes. The Clayface set pH๏τos do so in two ways, with major changes keeping the franchises apart. The first notable change is to Gotham as a whole.

In The Batman, Gotham’s map showcased the city as a solid mᴀss with bridges. In the Clayface set pH๏τos, the map shows that the DCU version of Gotham consists mainly of three interconnected islands. The second major change from The Batman to Clayface’s Gotham comes from Arkham. The former’s Arkham State Hospital now becomes DC Comics’ classic Arkham Asylum for the DCU.

Could The DCU Batman Debut In Clayface?

batman villain clayface smashing a building while gigantic

So far, DC has not said anything about Batman appearing in Clayface. However, with no updates on the timeline for the DCU Batman movie, The Brave and the Bold, it would make sense for the franchise to feature the debut of its new Dark Knight in Clayface. It would allow the new Batman to debut close to David Corenswet’s Superman.

After all, releasing a Batman villain movie years before the Dark Knight’s first DCU solo film is an odd move. With the Gotham City map in Clayface‘s set pH๏τos showing how Bruce Wayne’s presence is spread throughout the DCU Gotham, there is a chance Batman could have at least a cameo in Clayface. The Batman villain movie will answer that in 2026.