A shock to the senses for DC fans, The Batman Part II was recently hit with a major delay, with Warner Bros. recently moving the release date a full year from 2026 to fall 2027. It’s been an excruciating, patient time for those anticipating a follow-up to the 2022 superhero masterpiece, but it seems the long wait will be worth it as director Matt Reeves is ensuring it comes out just right. Co-CEO of DC Studios James Gunn, who is helping oversee The Batman sequel, just revealed why Part II has been delayed, and it’s exactly what we thought.
On Threads, Gunn replied to a fan asking if the report of The Batman 2’s delay was accurate and, if so, he could add some much-needed context around the release date shift. The filmmaker-turned-studio executive explained that Reeves had yet to turn in a complete script (which he had already revealed prior), and, as such, a delay was necessary to complete the entire creative process, from pre-production to post-production.
“Sure. Yes, it is true. The only reason for the delay is there isn’t a full script (those of you who follow me here probably know that already). Matt is committed to making the best film he possibly can, and no one can accurately guess exactly how long a script will take to write. Once there is a finished script, there is around two years for pre-production, shooting and post-production on big films. “
Although it is reassuring to know that The Batman Part II is being taken care of by all parties, it is concerning that there will be a five-year gap between the first film and its sequel. The Penguin was the perfect television spinoff that bridged the gaps between films, but as its Season 2 status remains up in the air, fans will have to wait a long time to return to Reeves’ epic crime saga. Poor Robert Pattinson may actually end up retiring by the time the movie trilogy is over, making his recent joke a far-too-realistic reality.
‘The Batman Part II’ Could Be Getting a New Title
Along with the news of the delay, it’s been reported that The Batman Part II is currently untitled as of this writing. If true, it would seem that the “Part II” subtitle could be dropped entirely and replaced with a new tagline. Alternatively, Matt Reeves could just call the sequel The Batman 2, but we’ll assume the added wait time will come with a far more creative title. Some fans speculated that the delay and potential title change was due to Gunn moving The Batman to the DCU, and yet that is not the case at the moment. Whether it is Part II or not, one thing remains clear — the world of The Batman is here to say.
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‘The Batman Part II’ Plot Details Reveal Sequel Will Explore a “Grey” Batman
“When things are in grey, it makes it very hard to be Batman.”
One of the most attractive aspects of The Batman and its spinoff, The Penguin, is that they are character-driven stories. Unlike some recent mishaps in the superhero genre, this franchise lives and breathes off the development of its titular heroes and villains, utilizing their personal journeys as the driving force of their stories. Early reports suggest that more spinoffs are on the way from the world of The Batman, but the only project that has been confirmed thus far is the upcoming sequel. Not even Clayface, a recently announced film produced by Matt Reeves, is set in the Elseworlds universe. That said, it’s hard to imagine a world where WB and HBO don’t take advantage of one of its most recent smash successes.
