The futures of the The Batman - Part II was delayed again. Initially set for a 2025 release, the anticipated sequel to director Matt Reeves' The Batman was moved to 2026 before jumping again to October 1, 2027.

The movie was delayed in part due to the 2023 Hollywood strikes, which postponed work on the script, though Matt Reeves says the plan is still to enter production this year. The delays put the movie closer to when DCU's Chapter One. The future Batman film was said to focus on a different period of Bruce Wayne's life when compared to Robert Pattinson's, though delays have led to rumors about them merging, and multiple updates reveal where things are at right now.

Matt Reeves And James Gunn Claimed The Universes Would Remain Separate

The DCU's Revealed Batman Story Does Not Fit Pattinson's Bruce Wayne

As The Batman finished its global box office run with $772.3 million (via Box Office Mojo) and overwhelmingly positive critical reception, fans started to ponder whether Pattinson's Bruce Wayne could be brought into James Gunn's DC Universe when the franchise was announced. However, there was a clear story reason blocking that from happening. When the movie was revealed alongside other DCU projects in January 2023, Gunn said that The Brave and the Bold would focus on Bruce Wayne and his son, Damian, later confirming that of the Bat-Family would appear in the film.

Robert Pattinson's Batman with a red hue in the rain and looking concerned in The Batman
Related
The Batman 2's Release Delay Officially Breaks A 59-Year-Old Dark Knight Sequel Trend

After another major delay, Robert Pattinson and director Matt Reeves' The Batman 2 will now officially break a long-running Batman movie sequel trend.

Given how Pattinson's Batman is fairly young and fresh in his career as Batman, he would not exactly fit that description. Despite many fans asking for Pattinson to the DCU, especially after David Corenswet was cast as Superman in June 2023, Gunn would seemingly close the door on the possibility at the end of the year. In November 2023, James Gunn claimed that Robert Pattinson would not be the DCU's Batman. The DC Studios co-CEO explained that the move stemmed from a decision made by The Batman franchise creator Matt Reeves, who did not want the merger, which Gunn respected.

Creature Commandos Showed A First Look At The DCU’s Batman

The Animated Series Did Not Make Batman Look Like Pattinson

Batman stood outside in front of lightning in Creature Commandos Episode 6

Due to the Hollywood strikes the year before, 2024 was a slow one for movies and TV shows in general. DC continued to plan its slate of projects, with Reeves' The Batman - Part II script said to be a priority for the studio. However, despite DC Studios' plans, The Batman sequel ended up being delayed to 2027. The Brave and the Bold director Andy Muschietti also revealed bad news about his DCU Batman film. According to Muschietti, his next movie is likely to be a sci-fi project he is currently writing, as The Brave and the Bold has been postponed.

Batman Movies

Movie

Release Date

The Batman - Part II

October 1, 2027

The Brave and the Bold

TBD

The Batman 3

TBD

The news that both Batman movies had been delayed came out on the same day. Thankfully, a week later, January 2025 brought more positive news for fans of the Dark Knight. Batman made his DCU debut in the TV-MA animated series Creature Commandos. Batman appeared in episode 6, where it was revealed that the Dark Knight had stopped Doctor Phosphorus' rise as he sought to build a criminal empire in Gotham City. In the DCU series, Batman was shown to be bigger than Robert Pattinson's Bruce Wayne, and it was teased that he has been active for many years.

Previously, Batman appeared in a vision of a possible future where the Justice League was killed. The Dark Knight was shown alongside David Corenswet's Superman, Wonder Woman, and several other DCU superheroes. However, Creature Commandos episode 6 marked the first real canon appearance for the DC hero in Gunn's DCU. While Batman looked very different from Pattinson's take on the character, which some thought discredited the rumors that the two franchises could merge, Gunn had already revealed that the animated show's designs for characters who still had no actors cast were not final, so Batman's design could change.

Matt Reeves & James Gunn Have Made More Positive Pattinson Batman Comments Recently

Rumors About The Batman Movies Merging Intensified

Robert Pattinson as Batman Looking Through A Rainsoaked Window In The Batman

After the delays of the two Batman movies and the Dark Knight's DCU debut in Creature Commandos, new updates made it seem like Robert Pattinson's Bruce Wayne could the shared universe after all. James Gunn was the first to light up hope for those who wanted to see it happen. Gunn commented more positively about Pattinson's DCU Batman chances than before. While the DCU's creative chief says he is committed to both DCU and Elseworlds stories — The Batman franchise falls into the latter — Gunn revealed that he "contemplated" the merger, and he would have been an "idiot" not to.

After Gunn showed a more positive stance on Pattinson's DCU chances, it was time for The Batman director Matt Reeves to do the same. Reeves provided an exciting Pattinson DCU update, saying it will come down to "whether or not it makes sense." The director also claimed he does not know how it will play out and that his focus is on getting The Batman - Part II ready and making it the best it can be. Still, Reeves left the door open for the merger, saying, "We’ll have to see where that goes" — far from a hard no.

The Brave And The Bold Director Andy Muschietti Has A Blunt Answer To The Rumors

There Is An Important Caveat With His Comments

Bruce and Damian Wayne in The Brave and the Bold promo comic book art with Damian aiming a sword at Batman

Following James Gunn and Matt Reeves' recent comments, fans felt more hopeful about Robert Pattinson's Batman ing the DCU. However, another important member of the Batman franchise has since made his voice heard. The Brave and the Bold director Andy Muschietti shot down the DCU Pattinson rumors. According to the director of Batman's DCU movie, "It’s quite obvious that Matt Reeves’ Batman is not part of this new universe." Muschietti was very direct in dispelling the rumors, also revealing that The Brave and the Bold will take longer to arrive to create space between it and The Batman sequel.

Sturdy Batman in DC Comics and Robert Pattinson's Batman
Related
The DC Universe Just Revealed Its New Batman

After Ben Affleck left DC for a new Batman to be cast, James Gunn's DC Universe has just released the first look at its new Dark Knight.

1

There is something important to note about The Brave and the Bold director's comments. Muschietti has since said that while he had talks with Gunn about the tone and direction of the DCU Batman's story in the anticipated film, he has not discussed it further with Gunn since before the DC Studios co-CEO started filming Superman. Since Gunn and Reeves made somewhat positive comments about Pattinson's DCU chances in recent weeks, there is a chance that Muschietti might not yet know about any movement in that regard. However, as of now, the two Batman franchises are to remain separate.

DC Movie Releases