January 8, 2025: Director Matt Reeves recently discussed the potential for his The Batman (2022) to be integrated into James Gunn’s new DC Universe, saying it would only happen “if it makes sense.” In an interview at the Golden Globes, Reeves shared that while there have been talks about the character’s future in Gunn’s expansive plans for DC, he remains focused on the story he set out to tell with The Batman and its sequel.
Reeves explained, “There was a story I wanted to tell—the epic crime saga. It’s been important to me to play that out, and James and Peter [Safran] have been really great about that. They’re letting us do that.” He further emphasized that while he’s unsure about the future of Pattinson’s Batman in the larger DC Universe, the focus right now is on The Batman Part II. “My head is down right now on getting ‘The Batman Part II‘ shooting, which is the most important thing.”
Regarding the potential crossover with Gunn’s DC Universe, Reeves said, “I don’t know, we will have to see where that goes.” This suggests that while he’s open to the idea, it’s not something that is actively being pursued unless it aligns with the creative vision.
The much-anticipated sequel to The Batman has faced a significant delay, with Warner Bros. recently pushing the release date by a year. The film, which was initially slated to release in 2026, will now hit theaters on October 1, 2027.
This delay has understandably disappointed many fans. However, James Gunn took to social media to justify the decision, highlighting that such delays are common in major film franchises. He pointed out that gaps of several years between sequels are not unusual, citing examples like Avatar, Top Gun, The Incredibles, and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.
“To be fair, a 5-year gap or more is fairly common in sequels,” Gunn wrote, referencing the 7-year gap between Alien and Aliens, the 14 years between The Incredibles films, and others in the industry.
Gunn also clarified that the delay was due to the script not being fully finished. “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,” Gunn explained. Once the script is finalized, a couple of years will be needed for pre-production, shooting, and post-production, especially for a film of this scale.
The Batman, starring Robert Pattinson as the titular hero, was a massive hit at the box office, earning approximately USD 369.3 million domestically and USD 772 million internationally. Its fresh, darker take on the iconic superhero resonated with audiences and critics alike, setting high expectations for its follow-up.
As for The Batman Part II, fans are eagerly awaiting the continuation of Reeves’ darker and more grounded vision for Gotham and its inhabitants. Whether this version of Batman will eventually fit into Gunn’s new DC Universe remains uncertain, but for now, the focus is on telling the next chapter in Reeves’ compelling crime saga.
