Matt Reeves’ The Batman gave us a noir-heavy detective story that was both grounded and gory, introducing a younger, angrier Bruce Wayne who was still learning what it meant to be Gotham’s Dark Knight. Three years on, The Batman Part II is finally in development at Warner Bros. and now stands as one of the most anticipated DC movies, despite Robert Pattinson’s Caped Crusader sitting outside the main DCU under the Elseworlds banner.
Barring all the production delays and release date pushbacks, development on The Batman Part II has been coming together quite nicely, with the script now locked and production set to kick off sometime in spring 2026. Director Matt Reeves has already started to share more details surrounding the sequel, as have cast members like Colin Farrell, who has described the script as “a contemporary genre masterwork.” So, based on what has been officially confirmed so far, along with leaks and rumours circulating, here’s everything we currently know about The Batman Part II, including its release date, expected cast, story details, and more.
The Batman Part II: Release Date
After a number of delays, The Batman Part II has finally locked in a release date of October 1, 2027. While it’s later than initially planned, we don’t think there will be any further delays as the script is locked and filming is expected to begin in spring 2026.
The Batman Part II: Cast
Matt Reeves and co. are keeping things fairly hush-hush when it comes to the cast of The Batman Part II, but it’s safe to say many of the original cast members will be back for the sequel. That includes some obvious names, starting with Robert Pattinson, who will reprise his role as the brooding Bruce Wayne. Colin Farrell is also back as Oz Cobb, having confirmed to Variety that he’ll return, though he won’t have a prominent role this time around. Other cast members like Zoë Kravitz as Selina Kyle/Catwoman, Jeffrey Wright as Jim Gordon and Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth are also expected to return for The Batman Part II.
Not everyone from the wider Batman universe will be returning, though. Despite her excellent performance as Sofia Falcone in The Penguin TV series, Cristin Milioti won’t be appearing in The Batman Part II. The reason, as Reeves explains, is that the script for The Batman Part II was already far along by the time the HBO series premiered. “Cristin’s not in this one,” Reeves told MTV at The Emmys. “But that’s because we were so deep into the script by the time we were in the show, so. But we’ll see. I mean, I think she’s incredible. What she did in the show is just astonishing. And what Lauren (LeFranc, showrunner) did in creating that character – I mean, creating this version of the character – is so special.”
As for new additions, few would have pegged Scarlett Johansson to show up in a DC movie, let alone one set in Matt Reeves’ Batman universe, but the Black Widow actress is now reportedly in talks to join the sequel. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Johansson is in final negotiations to star in The Batman Part II, with Jeff Sneider’s The InSneider recently revealing that Johansson is being eyed to play Gilda Gold, the wife of Harvey Dent.
While Warner Bros. hasn’t made anything official yet, her involvement would definitely add some serious star power. Another potential addition could be Tobias Menzies, who is reportedly being eyed to play Amadeus Arkham, the founder of Gotham’s Arkham Asylum. As things stand, none of this has been formally confirmed, so it’s better to treat all of this with a degree of caution. Here’s what the current expected cast for The Batman Part II looks like:
- Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne/Batman
- Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth
- Jeffrey Wright as Jim Gordon
- Zoë Kravitz as Selina Kyle/Catwoman
- Colin Farrell as Oz Cobb/The Penguin
- Scarlett Johansson
- Tobias Menzies
What Will The Batman Part II Be About?
While Matt Reeves and co-writer Mattson Tomlin are officially done with the script for The Batman Part II, there’s still very little clarity around what the sequel’s plot will actually involve. However, given how things ended in the first film and where The Penguin leaves Gotham, the plot going into The Batman Part II will likely pick up in a city still reeling from the fallout, with a brewing power struggle threatening to consume Gotham’s criminal underworld.
Reeves himself has been careful not to reveal too much, but did offer some insight as to where the sequel might be headed. Speaking at the Emmys, he explained that one of his main goals with the sequel was to push further into Bruce Wayne as a character. “One of the explorations, for me, was to do something that pushes even further into the character of Bruce Wayne because the first story is so much about the Batman,” Reeves told Happy Sad Confused.
“I always wanted, in the movies, to make sure [they were] focused on his character. I never wanted to lose Rob at the center of these stories – and that’s what we set our aim on. So, we had to pick the right villain that digs into his past. I won’t tell you where we ended up but we’re super excited about it, and I will say it’s never really been done in a movie before.”
Colin Farrell, who plays Oz, has confirmed that he will appear in “five or six” scenes and that The Batman Part II will pick up just a few weeks after the events of The Penguin. During an interview with Comicbook.com, Farrell revealed, “It conveniently worked that the death (of Carmine Falcone) at the end of The Batman and the devastation within Gotham opened up a power vacuum that then Oz could try and capitalize on. That was perfect for the parallel eight hours that we had. And then (The Batman Part II) will pick up, whatever, a few weeks after the show ended.”
Farrell has also been openly enthusiastic about the film’s script, calling it “a contemporary genre masterwork” and adding that he was “emotionally moved” after reading it. “My perspective is that it’s a work of contemporary genre brilliance. It really is. Matt toils so hard, and he puts himself under such pressure. And he realizes what this character and this world mean to so many people, and he knows it’s been around for decades; he’s the man for the job. He really is. He’s a brilliant filmmaker,” Farrell told Variety.
“The thing about Matt, as well, is that, as commercially minded as he is, he’s also so intellectually rigorous. This film, like the first one, works on multiple levels, both as pure entertainment and as an investigation into the psychology of the characters of Bruce Wayne and Batman. It’s really, really moving. I found myself very emotionally moved while I was reading it.”
In a typically understated fashion, Robert Pattinson has described the sequel as “cool.” Reeves, meanwhile, has made it clear that Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne will be dealing with the fallout of Gotham’s destruction. “This was a time of great turmoil in the city, it’s literally the week after what happened,” the director told Digital Spy. “Much of the city is in desperation, so police can’t get everywhere, there’s crime everywhere, it’s a very, very dangerous time. (Batman’s) out there trying to grapple with the aftermath of everything that happened, which to some degree he blames himself for.”
Beyond that, details remain tightly under wraps. There’s still no confirmation surrounding who the sequel’s main villain will be, though Reeves has teased that the villain for The Batman Part II has “never really been done in a movie before.” Speaking to MTV on the Emmy Awards red carpet, Reeves revealed, “And so picking the right villain that digs into what that does, that goes into his past and his life, that was what drove that discussion. I won’t tell you where we ended up, but we’re super excited about it. And I will say it’s never really been done in a movie before. So we’re excited.”
Is There A Trailer For The Batman Part II?
There’s no trailer for The Batman Part II just yet, as filming hasn’t started.
Are There Any Other Films Like The Batman Part II?
If you’re looking to scratch that same itch while waiting for The Batman Part II, 2022’s The Batman is the obvious place to start. Aside from that, Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy is a must-watch, sharing some clear DNA, especially in how Gotham is shown as a living ecosystem. If you’re looking for something outside the superhero genre, David Fincher’s Se7en and Zodiac are excellent crime and detective thrillers.
