The Batman was released in March 2022, ushering in a new era for The Dark Knight — here’s everything to know about The Batman – Part II, including updates on The Joker’s possible inclusion and the spin-off shows. Directed by Matt Reeves from a screenplay by him and Peter Craig, The Batman joins 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 2 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 2 as well as several possible spinoff shows. While The Batman 2 isn’t on DC’s immediate release slate, Matt Reeves is reportedly hard at work on a sequel. Here is everything to know 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 latest updates regarding The Batman – Part II have both come in September 2024 interviews about the universe and what to expect from it going forward. In an interview about The Penguin spinoff show, Matt Reeves described the DC show to Collider as an “entrée into the next movie“, and revealed the show will take place in winter prior to the holiday season, suggesting a Christmas setting for The Batman – Part II.
An interview with Matt Reeves and Dylan Clark also saw the duo tease Penguin’s growth and how it will affect The Batman – Part II, with Clark stating, “From our movie, you don’t get a sense of how this character is going to become the kingpin…when he comes back into Movie Two, he’s not the same character that Batman interacted with.” The suggestion that a far more hardened Oz will encounter Batman in the upcoming movie is a naturally interesting one, especially if the character has successfully established himself in Carmine Falcone’s place following the ending of The Penguin show.
Other than this, the most recent news about The Batman – Part II comes in the form of an August 2024 update from writer Mattson Tomlin. During an interview with Screen Rant about Tomlin’s new series Terminator Zero, the screenwriter co-penning the sequel script with Matt Reeves revealed that shooting would begin in 2025, and expressed his excitement for the upcoming release and its ability to capitalize on the story of the first installment.
With concerns about a lack of updates having arisen in the past months, this reveal is promising, especially when combined with the enthusiasm about the project and its future and production. The news that production is set to begin shooting in 2025 also supports its current 2026 release date being its final concrete debut window, which is helpful given the extended period of script development the project appears to have gone through did lead to rumors and theories that a later release window could be in the cards for The Batman – Part II.
Many of the latest news regarding The Batman – Part II focuses around the various rumors regarding the DC movie that DC Universe co-CEO James Gunn has debunked over the past few months. With new information for the upcoming DC movie being scarce, much speculation has occurred in the past year, leading to several notable rumors being put down by James Gunn on social media.
Gunn discredited rumors that Boyd Hollbrook was cast as Two-Face in the movie in March 2024. He then let audiences know that the third Batman movie would not be filmed back to back with the second when the rumor arose in June 2024, and addressed cancelation fears regarding The Batman – Part 2 in the same month, reassuring audiences that the film was still being made despite few recent updates.
With production updates being understandably scarce while the sequel is still being written – as matters like casting and filming need to wait for the story to be finalized – these posts provide a helpful way to get a better idea of what to expect for the film at a time when more tangible information seemingly isn’t incoming for some time. Gunn’s willingness to respond to questions about the movie also suggests it’s in safe hands, as he appears to demonstrate a respect for the Elseworlds Batman series even as he begins construction on the DCU iteration of the Dark Knight.
There is still plenty left unknown about The Batman 2, including who the central villain (or villains) will be, and what supporting cast will join Robert Pattinson in the upcoming sequel. With filming not yet begun, it’s unlikely audiences will see any kind of trailer until late 2024 at the earliest. However, there is likely to be a steady stream of casting news and teasers in the intervening time to help build anticipation for The Batman – Part II.
The Batman 2 Is Confirmed
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’ Catwoman. While the status of these ambitious TV projects is currently a little murky other than The Penguin, which is set to release in September 2024, The Batman – Part II very much isn’t, as The Batman 2 has been confirmed.
The recent shake-ups at the newly-merged 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
August 2024 brought the newest update for The Batman – Part II, with screenwriter Mattson Tomlin stating that shooting will begin in 2025. Since Tomlin is co-writing The Batman – Part II script alongside creator Matt Reeves, his comments on production carry particular weight, since he is one of two people who should theoretically have the strongest idea of what time window looks possible for starting shooting after the script is complete.
While Tomlin didn’t confirm that the script itself was finished, this suggests the intention at least is for it to be finalized prior to shooting in 2025. As such, the writer’s confidence in the 2025 shooting hopefully means that the script is nearing its final form, allowing for an easy transition into the shooting period in the year before the movie’s current release date.
In June 2024, the second most recent update for The Batman – Part II script was revealed, with Gunn confirming the script is still being worked on. This followed a period of some audience concern after The Batman – Part II production faced 9 months with no update regarding what stage the movie or script was at. With this prompting people to ask Gunn about the status of the project, the DCU co-CEO responded to a query about when he felt the script might be ready with the response of “when Matt thinks it’s ready!“
While this may be disappointing for those hoping for the script to have a specific time window, the response suggests Matt Reeves will be able to work on the sequel story until he feels it’s truly right, ensuring the movie holds up to the high standard of the original. Similarly, this means that any prospective delays The Batman – Part II has faced won’t result in a rushed script, which seems integral given the detective element of the series makes it seem more likely it would need a longer production time in general to ensure a genuinely engaging mystery is established.
Prior to this, September 2023 revealed more about The Batman – Part II script, as it was reported that concluding the work on the movie’s script was made a priority by Warner Bros. Discovery after the conclusion of the Writer’s Guild Association strikes. While the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes may have contributed to potential production delays – and might thus at least partially explain its release alteration – the decision to move the release date to 2026 should hopefully cement a solid amount of time for The Batman – Part II’s production to unfold within.
The Batman 2 Release Date
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.
However, The Batman – Part II will now be releasing on October 2, 2026, following a March 2024 movie update that revealed the film would be delayed by a year. While those desperately hoping for the 2025 release window are sure to be disappointed, this news comes after the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes delayed a number of other superhero projects, meaning it makes sense that The Batman sequel is also being pushed back so as to ensure the final release’s quality, especially with the impending franchise spinoffs set to tide fans over.
The Batman – Part II releasing in October 2026 would place it after Avengers 5, seemingly providing a clear window for it to rule the multiplex. However, it’s worth noting that the DCU’s next Batman offering, The Brave and the Bold, is believed to be arriving in 2026 at the earliest, meaning the two iterations of the Dark Knight may now appear in closer succession. Though this could certainly complicate things, a close together dual Batman movie release could be good for the overall franchise, showing audiences DC is taking a different approach to the likes of the MCU with its movies.
The Batman 2 Cast: Who Could Return & Who Might Debut?
So far, there are two confirmed returning cast members 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 panel about the upcoming DC movie.
This is especially interesting in that it suggests the events of The Penguin will have a direct impact on The Batman – Part II in terms of the Penguin’s character arc. With Batman having established a relatively hostile relationship with Oz in the first movie, it will no doubt 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.
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 2. Besides Colin Farrell’s Penguin and Keoghan’s Joker coming to the forefront, The Batman 2 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 2. 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.
Barry Keoghan’s Joker could also come back in The Batman 2. 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 studios 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 2. The Penguin, who was Falcone’s right-hand man, could also emerge as a major villain in The Batman sequel. Penguin’s spinoff show could very well lead into his story in the sequel, whereas Arkham Asylum would prep viewers for an all-new Joker.
The Batman 2 Does Not Yet Have A Trailer
While The Batman – Part II is confirmed, a trailer for The Batman 2 won’t be arriving in the immediate future. The sequel to The Batman is still in the very early stages of development, so there’s not yet footage 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.
With The Penguin and its chapter of The Batman‘s story coming in between these two movies, it’s possible that a trailer or teaser will only release after the spinoff itself. Indeed, the finale of the show could be the optimal time to release the first trailer or glimpse at the sequel movie and how it will follow up on all of this.
That said, with The Batman – Part II coming in 2026, there’s plenty of time for a trailer to be released, especially with audiences able to be tided over by an entire spinoff series focusing in the universe. As such, the decision may be made for a prospective trailer to be held on until closer to the actual release of the film, ensuring audiences aren’t hyped for a debut still a long time away.
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 2. 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 taking visits with the Joker, there’s almost no doubt 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.
Another option for The Batman 2 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 2, or may at least be involved. Anything at this point is entirely speculative though, and it’s likely that the villain in The Batman – Part II will be just refreshing a take as Paul Dano’s reinvention of The Riddler.
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 untitled Arkham Asylum series, which would have been a perfect place to potentially properly introduce the Joker. Reeves had teased that the series would be more in the vein of the horror genre, and Barry Keoghan’s horrific Joker could thus have certainly fit in. However, the Arkham Asylum series was then reportedly canceled itself, with Variety reporting in July 2024 that the series would not be moving forward at 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.
The most recently announced The Batman spinoff is a Penguin-focused show. The Penguin show is set to release in September 2024, with the series chronicling the rise of Oz Cobb following the events of the original movie, while also delving into his history.
The Penguin show’s story is additionally set to expand The Batman‘s lore further, introducing characters like Sofia Falcone into the universe and fleshing out what the aftermath of Carmine Falcone’s death will look like for Gotham and its criminal underworld. As the main confirmed spinoff for The Batman universe, the series is sure to be a crucial cornerstone for the franchise, especially since it’s been revealed it will connect together the first and second movies and their respective points in the timeline.
A Catwoman spinoff hasn’t been confirmed, but Reeves has expressed interest to HBO Max 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 rogue’s gallery members 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 upcoming The Batman – Part II.
Will The Batman 2 Be Part of the New DC 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 2, 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 upcoming releases.
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.
