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The Batman was released in March 2022, ushering in a new era for The Dark Knight — here’s everything to know about Robert Pattinson's DC hero in his second year as Gotham City’s vigilante. The ending of The Batman definitely left scope for a sequel, and the overwhelmingly positive reception to this latest iteration of the Caped Crusader made The Batman Part II feel almost guaranteed.
While initially conceived to stand alone, the ending of The Batman set it up as the perfect movie to usher in a Batman-centered cinematic universe — including The Batman Part II as well as several possible spinoff shows. While The Batman Part II isn't coming for over two years, Matt Reeves is reportedly hard at work on a sequel. There's a lot to learn about The Batman Part II, including who in the cast might return, the sequel’s release date, and if the Barry Keoghan iteration of the Joker will finally get more screen time.
The Batman 2: Latest News & Updates
The Film Has Been Delayed To 2027
For a while, it felt like The Batman Part II was going to be able to hit its October 2026 release date, as director Matt Reeves said that the script was getting finished. Unfortunately, on December 27, 2024, it was revealed that The Batman Part II was delayed once more, getting an October 2027 slot instead. While this might be disappointing to fans, it gives Matt Reeves all the more time to get the script perfect.
The news wasn't met well, and James Gunn took to Threads to defend the delay in the film, providing a list of other iconic movies that have had significant time periods between their sequels. Gunn has repeatedly said that a movie won't go into shooting without a completed script, which indicates that Matt Reeves might have been overestimating slightly how close it was to being completed. The film is still on track to shoot sometime in 2025.
- The Penguin EPs Matt Reeves & Dylan Clark Discuss Oz Cobb, The Batman Part II, And Expanding Gotham City
- The Penguin Subtly Sets Up Phase 2 Of The Riddler’s Plan For Gotham Ahead Of The Batman Part II
The Batman 2 Is Confirmed
There Will Be A Trilogy
Following the commercial and critical success of The Batman, Warner Bros. announced a sequel and streaming series spinning out of The Batman — one (now-canceled) series about the Gotham City Police Department, a potential Arkham Asylum-based show, a series based on The Penguin, and possibly even one for Zoë Kravtiz's Catwoman. While the status of these ambitious TV projects is currently a little murky other than The Penguin, which premiered in September 2024, The Batman Part II very much isn't, as it has been confirmed.
The shake-ups at Warner Bros Discovery, including the appointment of James Gunn and Peter Safran as heads of a new on-screen DC Universe, have put some future projects in doubt, but Gunn has confirmed that Reeves will be writing and directing two more The Batman movies, resulting in a trilogy. This news was met incredibly well by most — especially since it comes at a time when many popular DC screen-based ventures like the Arrowverse have concluded, leaving audiences more hungry than ever for new installments.
The Batman 2 Production Status
It Is Set To Film Sometime In 2025
While The Batman Part II hasn't officially begun shooting, it seems like Matt Reeves is in the final stages of polishing up the script, and the movie should begin production sometime in 2025. It was originally thought it would be shooting in early 2025, but a summer or later shooting schedule seems all the more likely, giving it plenty of time in post-production for its newly announced release date, which has already been delayed numerous times.
The Batman 2 Release Date
There's A 2027 Window For The Sequel
The Batman faced several delays because of the global pandemic, especially as it began filming shortly before lockdown, and was stalled for several months, before picking back up with production later in 2020. The Batman was initially scheduled for a summer 2021 release. During James Gunn's announcement on the DC Universe's future, he provided an initial release date of October 3, 2025, but that has been delayed several times since.
After seeming like The Batman Part II finally landed an October 2026 release date, it was once again delayed for another year, and is currently scheduled to be released October 1, 2027, five years after the first film was released. While the longer release window isn't quite common for comic book sequels anymore, it means that Matt Reeves has hopefully had enough time to truly get the script right.
The Batman 2 Cast: Who Could Return & Who Might Debut?
Most Of The Cast Isn't Confirmed Yet
So far, there are two confirmed returning cast for The Batman Part II, with those figures being Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne, and Colin Farrell as the Penguin. Batman's return for The Batman Part II was something of an inevitability that almost goes without saying, but Oz Cobb's reappearance was confirmed at 2024's San Diego Comic-Con, within the about the DC movie.
This is especially interesting because the events of The Penguin should have a direct impact on The Batman Part II in of the Penguin's character arc. With Batman having established a relatively hostile relationship with Oz in the first movie, it will be interesting to see how this plays out for their next encounters, as a version of the Penguin who has amassed more power is likely to at least attempt to use it against the Dark Knight going forward. Cristin Milioti as Sofia Falcone could also appear, given where she left off at the end of The Penguin.
Zoë Kravitz, Jeffrey Wright, and Andy Serkis will more than likely return as Catwoman, Jim Gordon, and Alfred, respectively. Barry Keoghan as Joker could also play a larger role in The Batman Part II. Besides Colin Farrell's Penguin and Keoghan's Joker coming to the forefront, The Batman Part II could also feature more of Paul Dano's Riddler, who was still alive at the end of The Batman and (thanks to his interaction with the Joker) definitely in a prime position to be a trilogy-spanning threat.
The Batman 2 Story
How The Batman's Ending Sets Up A Sequel
The Batman ends with a scene that sees The Riddler befriending the Joker in Arkham Asylum, teasing a potential alliance between the villainous pair in The Batman Part II. Joker's riddle possibly hints at the arrival of the Court of Owls, a criminal group made up of many of Gotham's wealthiest citizens. A voiceover from Pattinson’s Caped Crusader suggests Gotham will rebuild, but the chaos and corruption will be at an all-time high following the death of Carmine Falcone.
Now that Colin Farrell's Oz Cobb has secured power in Gotham, he could play an even more significant role in the sequel than he did in The Batman, providing a perfect foil for Robert Pattinson's character as he dives deeper into the corruption at the heart of the city. Matt Reeves has already stated that The Batman Part II will take place shortly after The Penguin, meaning there is a likely chance that threads from that show will pop up in the new movie.
Reeves' Falcone Twist s The Batman 2's Biggest Villain Theory
While Carmine Falcone had a vast amount of control over Gotham City in The Batman, it's possible he was working for a secret villain organization.
Barry Keoghan’s Joker could also come back in The Batman Part II. While he only appears in the final scene of The Batman, a deleted scene was released that reveals a 5-minute interaction between him and Batman. The scene was not included in the film as the studio thought it might detract from Paul Dano's Riddler. Given Keoghan's astounding performance in the clip, they weren't wrong.
Keoghan's Joker resembles none of his predecessors, and he sports a largely disfigured face, along with the signature Joker laugh. Either way, the studios are starting to reveal more of The Batman's iteration of the supervillain, meaning it could be leading up to his big debut in The Batman Part II.
The Batman 2 Does Not Yet Have A Trailer
There Likely Won't Be A Trailer Until 2026
While The Batman Part II is confirmed, a trailer for the film won't be arriving anytime soon, obviously, given that the movie hasn't even started filming. The sequel to The Batman is still in the very early stages of development, so there's no footage yet to use for promotion, nor even seemingly a finalized story to promote.
However, other DC movies like Joker: Folie à Deux received teaser visuals across social media within a few months of being formally announced. It's possible The Batman Part II will receive similar treatment as time rolls on and more concrete details, such as the villain and wider cast, are established.
Is The Joker In The Batman 2?
Likely The Batman - Part II Villains Explained
Since the iconic villain made an appearance in The Batman, it's likely that the Joker will show up in The Batman Part II. In a deleted scene since released on YouTube by Reeves, Batman goes to Arkham Asylum to question the Joker about the Riddler.
Since Wayne is making visits with the Joker, there's a possibility that he'll have a larger role in The Batman sequel. His unveiling has been a long process due to the character's infamy in the Batman universe. It seems like Reeves is holding information on the character for as long as possible, and a battle with the Joker could be more suited for the finale of the franchise.
The Batman 2’s Joker & Riddler Team-Up Tease May Be Too Much
The Batman’s Joker and Riddler team-up tease is exciting, but such intense villains sharing the screen may be too much for The Batman 2 to pull off.
Another option for The Batman Part II villain is the Court of Owls. The ending of The Batman definitely opens up the possibility. The focus on organized crime and corruption is at the forefront of the gritty rendition, and the Court of Owls comprises the most corrupt of Gotham's elite. Since Gotham is only going to get worse after the Riddler, the Court of Owls could likely be the next centerpiece of The Batman Part II, or may at least be involved. Oz Cobb will once again act as an antagonist in the film to some degree.
Everything We Know About The Batman Spin-Off Shows
Warner has also announced plans for a number of spinoff shows set in The Batman's universe. It was announced in 2020 that a series focused on the Gotham Police Department (Gotham P.D.) would be released on HBO Max. However, the show has been put on indefinite hold, as disagreements surrounding the series prompted an entirely different spinoff.
The Gotham P.D. series was then supposed to be replaced on Reeves' production calendar by none other than an the Arkham Asylum series was then reportedly canceled itself, with Variety reporting in July 2024 that the series would not be moving forward with Max.
While this means the Arkham Asylum show may theoretically be able to come to fruition via other means - as the Variety report itself states that "it is still possible, though, that a new project set within the infamous Gotham City asylum could be developed in the future" - currently it appears there are no plans at this time. Either way, this does seem to remove it from the overall Elseworlds lineup.
A Catwoman spinoff hasn't been confirmed, but Reeves has expressed interest to HBO that he'd really like to make one. Given the success of The Batman and Zoë Kravitz's outstanding performance in the role, his wishes could come true.
It's also reported (via The Hollywood Reporter) that Reeves is meeting with writers and directors for more series and movies in The Batman's universe, with rogues gallery Scarecrow, Clayface, and Professor Pyg mentioned. However, given the general uncertainty around the DC Universe and Warner-Discovery, plans could very well change for all of these series. One thing that is confirmed is that, whatever form these shows take, they'll definitely feed into (or out of) the The Batman Part II.
Will The Batman 2 Be Part of the New DC Universe?
It Is Set In Its Own Universe
With Warner Bros phasing out the old, Zack Snyder-created version of its DC heroes, some fans have speculated that The Batman could be used as a launching point for a new universe. However, in his January 2023 presentation, DC Studios co-head James Gunn confirmed that The Batman Part II and related projects will remain separate - a decision that looks set to benefit both The Batman's world and the DC Universe overall.
The Batman Part II, alongside already-existing DC properties like Teen Titans Go and the CW's Superman and Lois, will be released under the DC Elseworlds banner, a term long used in DC Comics to mark alternate universes not connected to the main continuity. This makes sense given the grim tone of this specific Dark Knight, and the focus on giving him a gritty and grounded version of DC lore, which seemingly wouldn't be in line with the DC Universe's overarching main timeline given the range of extraordinary magical and sci-fi characters already revealed to be in releases.
The new DC Universe will instead have its own Batman, who will debut in Batman: The Brave and the Bold.
The new DC Universe will instead have its own Batman, who will debut in Batman: The Brave and the Bold. The Brave and the Bold is set to feature the return of Robin to the big screen and will likely have a lighter tone than Reeves' The Batman universe. Whether audiences will be understanding of two different Batman series existing simultaneously remains to be seen, but for now it appears The Batman Part II will have creative freedom to take its dark story wherever it wants.
The Batman Part II
- Release Date
- October 1, 2027
- Director
- Matt Reeves
- Writers
- Matt Reeves, Bill Finger, Bob Kane
- Prequel(s)
- The Batman
- Franchise(s)
- Batman
Cast
Bruce Wayne / The Batman
Oz Cobb
Alfred Pennyworth
James Gordon
The Batman Part II is the sequel to Matt Reeve's The Batman, released in 2022, and will continue where the original film left off. The film shares a universe with the HBO Max original Penguin series and sees the return of the Riddler and a different incarnation of the Joker.
DC Movie Releases
The Batman 2: Further News & Info
- James Gunn Debunks The Batman 2 Villain Casting Rumor
