It’s been almost exactly three years since The Batman hit theaters on March 4, 2022. Now, as we approach the anniversary, the release of its sequel seems no closer.
At the earliest, we won’t see The Batman – Part II until 2027. By then, it will have been five years since the first film, and Robert Pattinson, who plays Batman, will be 40 years old. This could be an issue for a story that focuses on an inexperienced billionaire playboy turning into the world’s greatest detective. Pattinson himself has admitted to this in a recent interview.
In a conversation with Hero Magazine, Pattinson was asked if he’d begin shooting the new Batman film soon. He humorously replied, “I f—ing hope so. [laughs] I started out as young Batman and I’m going to be f—ing old Batman by the sequel.”
The delays in the sequel’s production aren’t entirely due to Matt Reeves, the director. A writers’ strike in 2023 halted progress on the screenplay for several months. Additionally, the film was approved under the previous DC Studios leadership, before Peter Safran and James Gunn took over as co-CEOs. Now, they are developing their own Batman project, which will feature a different version of the character and focus on Batman’s relationship with his son, Damian Wayne.
It’s hard to imagine Warner Bros. releasing two separate Batman films with two different versions of the character in such a short period. The potential for audience confusion is high — would viewers know which Batman is which? Could the films be sequels or completely different stories? More importantly, there’s a risk of over-saturating the market with too much Batman.
Batman is undoubtedly one of the most beloved superheroes, and his films have consistently made hundreds of millions of dollars. But the excitement surrounding The Batman sequel may not last long. Even if the movie is a success, will audiences be eager for another Batman movie right after? Moreover, how will Pattinson’s version of the Dark Knight stand apart from the new one?
There are many questions still unanswered as the future of Batman on the big screen hangs in the balance.
