What’s Going On With The Batman 2? (2025 Edition)
Matt Reeves’ The Batman – Part II looks increasingly unlikely to arrive anytime soon, but the DC Elseworlds movie is still receiving updates about its slow-moving production. Matt Reeves’ The Batman turned Ben Affleck’s canceled DCEU Batman solo movie into an extremely popular and highly acclaimed, standalone Batman movie that’s totally independent from any cinematic universe. The Batman‘s critical and commercial success opened the door for a direct sequel, and Matt Reeves devised plans not only for The Batman – Part II, but also for spinoffs and series. The Arkham Asylum and Gotham PD spinoff series were canceled only a couple of years later.
Two years after The Batman‘s 2022 release, The Penguin revisited Matt Reeves’ Gotham City through the eyes of Colin Farrell’s Penguin. The Penguin took the Golden Globes for Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Limited Series. While Robert Pattinson’s Batman doesn’t appear in The Penguin, The Penguin finale teases the Dark Knight’s return with the closing image of the Bat-Signal illuminating the Gotham skyline. The Batman‘s ending suggests Bruce Wayne will take a more hopeful approach to his Batman duties, and The Penguin‘s ending almost guarantees Oz Cobb will return in The Batman – Part II, but when the sequel will hit theaters is yet to be confirmed.
What Robert Pattinson Doing Dune 3 Means For The Batman 2
Robert Pattinson’s Dune 3 Role May Delay The Batman – Part II A Bit Further
Robert Pattinson is reportedly being eyed for a role in Denis Villeneuve’s Dune 3. Naturally, Pattinson’s possible Dune 3 casting has sparked speculation about The Batman – Part II‘s release date, as The Batman – Part II has already been delayed multiple times. Pattinson is also co-starring with a star-studded cast in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, which is filming in Q2 2025 and is set to release in 2026. Robert Pattinson’s commitments to Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey and Denis Villeneuve’s Dune 3 might push The Batman – Part II a little further to accommodate Pattinson’s schedule — possibly half a year more.
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On the other hand, The Odyssey and Dune 3 are ensemble movies. Robert Pattinson will be one of many A-list stars sharing the screen with a packed cast in both movies, meaning that Pattinson may only be unavailable for a brief period. After filming his part, Pattinson may be fully available for The Batman – Part II. What’s more, Matt Reeves’ The Batman – Part II hasn’t started pre-production yet. Even if The Odyssey and Dune 3 took a bit longer than expected, Pattinson would likely be available by the time The Batman – Part II is about to start production.
The Batman 2 Release Date Is Set For 2027 (But Has Been Delayed Twice)
The Batman – Part II Isn’t Completely Guaranteed To Release In 2027
Since its announcement, The Batman – Part II has been delayed multiple times. First, The Batman was scheduled to release in October 2025. In December 2024, The Batman – Part II was delayed an entire year, to October 2027. At this point, The Batman‘s first sequel risks releasing very close to the DCU’s own Batman movie, Andy Muschietti’s The Brave and the Bold. One of the few updates about The Batman – Part II‘s script shared by Matt Reeves came in December 2024, when Matt Reeves confirmed he was finishing the script and that The Batman – Part II would start filming in 2025.
Robert Pattinson’s availability in late 2025 might still be crucial
Matt Reeves’ shared his script update a few days before The Batman – Part II‘s latest delay was announced. This delay is supposed to affect The Batman – Part II‘s filming start date minimally, pushing the start of production only a few months, but delaying the movie’s release date a whole year later due to its “VFX-heavy” post-production. Taking Matt Reeves’ script update into account, however, there must be little Matt Reeves and his crew have left to do before they’re ready to advance to the next stage. Robert Pattinson’s availability in late 2025 might still be crucial.
Why There’s Concern About The Batman 2
Matt Reeves’ The Batman Franchise Isn’t The Only Dark Knight Franchise In The Works
Matt Reeves is taking his time to perfect every aspect of The Batman – Part II, but fans are growing impatient, and audiences are moving on to other franchises. The Batman‘s cast is also moving on to new commitments elsewhere. For instance, Colin Farrell is reportedly in talks to star in Sgt. Rock — the DCU’s WWII movie previously reported to be eyeing Daniel Craig for the titular role. Robert Pattinson may also be signing on to a long-term commitment with movies the size of The Odyssey and Dune 3. Other stars like Andy Serkis, Zoë Kravitz, and Cristin Milioti could follow suit.
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Meanwhile, James Gunn and Peter Safran are quickly expanding their DCU franchise with the introduction of several Gotham characters such as Creature Commandos‘ Doctor Phosphorus, Clayface‘s titular villain, and Dynamic Duo‘s Jason Todd and Dick Grayson. Andy Muschietti’s The Brave and the Bold is only starting to define a script, but at this rate, The Brave and the Bold could catch up to The Batman – Part II. If James Gunn’s DCU casts its Batman actor, anticipation for The Batman – Part II, The Batman‘s third installment, and any other spinoff could dwindle.
Will The Batman 2 Actually Happen?
The Batman – Part II Will Take A While, But It Likely Won’t Be Canceled
If there are no further delays before then, The Batman – Part II will start filming in late 2025. By then, Robert Pattinson could easily finish his work on The Odyssey and Dune 3 before The Batman – Part II‘s production starts. While a five-year period between the first and the second installment is quite a lot, The Batman – Part II is currently on track to meet its October 1, 2027 release date. Of course, this release date requires Matt Reeves to complete The Batman – Part II‘s script and start pre-production very soon, and it requires all the cast to clear their schedules for the end of the year.
The Batman – Part II‘s filming schedule might also lead DC Studios to withhold any The Brave and the Bold updates until 2026, at the earliest.
On February 24, 2025, James Gunn debunked the theories that Robert Pattinson will be the DCU’s Batman, stating that, “it’s imperative” and “the plan for The Brave and the Bold.” At the 2025 Golden Globes, Matt Reeves teased that The Batman – Part II‘s main villain will be surprising, suggesting that the antagonistic force of The Batman – Part II has already been settled and is ready to be cast. Since everything points to The Batman – Part II starting production in late 2025, fans can expect casting news and plot updates towards summer or fall.
