The wait for The Batman Part II is still long, but the buzz is already shaking up Hollywood. The sequel to Matt Reeves’ gritty 2022 reboot isn’t set to hit theaters until October 1, 2027, yet the anticipation is already burning white-hot. You have to ask, why are fans so worked up this far ahead? The answer might lie in the words of the film’s co-writer, Mattson Tomlin, who took to X to share what many are calling one of the boldest promises yet for the franchise.
We worked exceptionally hard to tell a story worthy of the character. Something that feels new and dangerous. The bar couldn’t be higher. Looking forward to people seeing it and being able to talk about it at length. Can’t begin to describe what this film means to me. https://t.co/jL6ZhjzP6G pic.twitter.com/LAHhdJXyqp
— mattson tomlin (@mattsontomlin) February 15, 2026
“We worked exceptionally hard to tell a story worthy of the character. Something that feels new and dangerous. The bar couldn’t be higher,” Tomlin wrote. “Can’t begin to describe what this film means to me.” That single message sent the online fandom into overdrive. For a series already known for reinventing Batman in darker, more realistic shades, Tomlin’s words hint that The Batman Part II won’t play it safe.
Despite the excitement, Warner Bros. and DC are keeping most details locked down. Fans know Robert Pattinson will return as Gotham’s tortured vigilante, but the rest of the picture is still forming. Scarlett Johansson and Sebastian Stan have joined the cast, while Zoë Kravitz’s Catwoman and Cristin Milioti’s Sofia Falcone from The Penguin are sitting this one out. Even Colin Farrell, who helped define Oz Cobb, the ruthless version of Penguin in this BatVerse, admitted his role this time will be small. Barry Keoghan, who briefly appeared as Joker in the first film, is also rumored to return, though in what capacity remains uncertain.
Meanwhile, the ongoing confusion about the DC Universe adds another layer of tension. James Gunn has repeatedly told fans that Pattinson’s Batman will remain separate from the new DCU continuity, yet online debates refuse to die. Every few months, fresh theories surface comparing leaked Clayface set photos to scenes from The Batman. Could there be a crossover after all? Gunn says no, but fans seem determined not to let the idea go.
That pressure weighs on director Matt Reeves. He’s not just building a sequel, he’s building an entire BatVerse that already includes the spinoff series The Penguin. Success brings expectations, and Reeves knows exactly what’s at stake. Before locking in the final script, he waited until both DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn and Robert Pattinson were completely on board. Reeves admits he only wanted to move forward if his leading man, the man literally behind the mask, believed in the story.
“He’s Batman, so if he doesn’t like it, not good,” Reeves said in late 2025. “The things it does for his character, for Batman and for Bruce Wayne, have never been done before in this way. The fact that he responded so strongly was incredibly encouraging.”
Now, with cameras expected to start rolling this spring, The Batman Part II is finally finding its shape. The road to Gotham is long, but for fans patient enough to wait, the promise from Tomlin and Reeves sounds like something more than a typical sequel. The question now is simple: will they deliver a new classic, or push the legend of the Dark Knight into even darker territory?
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