James Gunn Defends ‘Batman 2’ Delay, Says “A 5 Year Gap Or More Is Fairly Common In Sequels”

December 29, 2024: James Gunn, co-chairman of DC Studios, has defended the delay of The Batman 2, offering a thoughtful perspective on the common practice of long gaps between sequels. The sequel to the hit 2022 film The Batman, directed by Matt Reeves and starring Robert Pattinson, was originally slated for release in 2026 but will now debut on October 1, 2027, marking a one-year postponement.

In his defense, Gunn pointed out that delays between sequels are a longstanding tradition in Hollywood, citing the significant gaps between the releases of other popular sequels. For example, there were 7 years between Alien and Aliens, 14 years between The Incredibles and The Incredibles 2, 7 years between the first two Terminator films, and 13 years between Avatar and Avatar: The Way of Water. He also noted the 36-year gap between Top Gun (1986) and Top Gun: Maverick and mentioned that it took 6 years for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 to follow its predecessor.

Gunn clarified that the delay was primarily due to the script not being fully developed yet. He explained that Matt Reeves is committed to delivering the best possible film, and given the size and complexity of such blockbuster films, it’s difficult to predict exactly how long the writing process will take. Once the script is finalized, it will still take around two years for pre-production, shooting, and post-production.

In addition to the delay, the shift in the release schedule has opened up a new release date for Alejandro González Iñárritu’s untitled project starring Tom Cruise, which will now occupy the space previously held by The Batman 2.

This decision follows the success of the 2022 The Batman, a film that found great success both critically and commercially, earning $369.3 million domestically and $772 million internationally. Additionally, the film’s success led to the creation of a spinoff series for HBO Max (The Penguin starring Colin Farrell), further expanding the universe introduced in the film.

Warner Bros. has also made some changes to its upcoming slate. The release of Bong Joon Ho’s Mickey 17, starring Robert Pattinson, has been moved to March 7, 2025, while Ryan Coogler’s Sinners, which will reunite him with Michael B. Jordan, has been pushed to April 18, 2025.

The shifting of release dates, particularly for The Batman 2, reflects the industry’s increasingly careful approach to blockbuster filmmaking, ensuring that the final product meets both creative and commercial expectations. Fans of the Batman universe will have to wait a bit longer, but it’s clear that Warner Bros. is focused on delivering the best experience possible.