Earlier this evening, a rumor surfaced suggesting that Matt Reeves was gearing up to film The Batman – Part II next year, followed immediately by a third installment. However, James Gunn has now put those rumors to rest.
Originally, The Batman – Part II was slated for release on October 3, 2025. As 2024 rolled in with minimal updates and looming production-halting strikes, speculation grew that a delay was inevitable. The movie was subsequently pushed back nearly a full year to October 2, 2026.
The lack of updates in recent months had fans worried that Matt Reeves’ sequel might have been scrapped entirely, though this seemed unlikely. Assurances were given that everything was still on track, and an exciting rumor emerged today claiming that The Batman – Part II would start filming next year, with Reeves shooting a third installment back-to-back.
Given the extensive time spent developing the sequel and Reeves’ previous comments about expanding the “BatVerse,” this rumor seemed plausible. However, DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn has now debunked the report via Threads.
James Gunn debunks a recent rumor that ‘THE BATMAN’ Part 2 & 3 will be shooting back to back next year pic.twitter.com/DQkzU1cG8r
— DC Film News (@DCFilmNews) June 10, 2024
Jeff Sneider also chimed in, hinting that an official announcement regarding DC Studios’ plans for this franchise might be coming soon.
Seeing a lot of BATMAN misinformation on my timeline today. None of you have any idea what’s going on with Batman behind the scenes. Not one of you is correct. Trust me… and be patient with @MattReevesLA.
— Jeff Sneider (@TheInSneider) June 10, 2024
Currently, all we have are rumors. Recently, it was reported that Logan and The Sandman actor Boyd Holbrook is in talks to play Harvey Dent/Two-Face. While this could be true, it seems we will have to wait a while to find out for certain.
When the new DCU slate was announced, Gunn confirmed that Reeves’ BatVerse would remain separate from the DCU. This means that The Batman – Part II, along with Todd Phillips’ Joker sequel, will be considered “Elseworlds” tales.
A new actor will take on the role of Batman in Batman: The Brave and the Bold, which will also feature a different take on Robin – The Caped Crusader’s son, Damian Wayne.
Robert Pattinson, Zoë Kravitz, Andy Serkis, Jeffrey Wright, and Colin Farrell are all expected to reprise their roles. Characters introduced in the Penguin Max spin-off series are also likely to appear. Officially, Reeves has stated that his sequel will continue this “epic crime saga,” but that’s about all the information we have.
One rumor suggested that the story would be at least partially based on Geoff Johns’ Batman: Earth One. The first film drew some inspiration from Vol. 1, so it’s assumed the sequel would be more influenced by Volumes 2 and 3.
For those unfamiliar with the comic, Earth One takes place in an alternate continuity and features an updated and more realistic reinterpretation of the classic Batman origin and characters. While Hush does not appear, later volumes do feature Clayface, Scarecrow, and a female take on Two-Face in Harvey Dent’s twin sister Jessica.
The rumor mill has been buzzing, but it’s clear that fans will need to exercise patience. With James Gunn debunking the latest speculation, it seems we will have to wait for official announcements to get a clearer picture of what lies ahead for The Batman franchise.
