We all knew a sequel to The Batman was inevitable, though last night James Gunn confirmed that it’s officially in development, is titled The Batman – Part II, and is targeting an October 2025 release date. At this early stage, information on the movie is thin on the ground, though it’s safe to say we’ll likely see more of Barry Keoghan’s Joker as well as a smattering of other members of the famed Rogues’ Gallery.
Matt Reeves is staying tight-lipped about what’s next for Robert Pattinson’s Batman, though his reaction to the announcement suggests he’ll continue to focus on the battle against organized crime in Gotham:
Many have noted the similarities between this title and cinematic classic The Godfather Part II, which is considered one of the greatest sequels of all time. That film arguably exceeded its predecessor in scope and thematic depth, leaving us reassured that Reeves is approaching the sequel with big ambitions.
Reeves has also underlined that he doesn’t want The Batman – Part II to lose focus on its core character. Previous Batman movies have been criticized for essentially sidelining the Dark Knight in favor of the villains, but he says Pattinson’s Batman will always be the core of the story. Speaking to Collider, he said:
“My goal has always been to do these point-of-view stories that allow the character to always be the emotional center of the story. Because a lot of times what happens is, after you do the first one, then suddenly other Rogues Gallery characters come in, and they kind of take over, and then Batman takes a backseat sort of character-wise, or emotionally.”
Fortunately, we don’t have to wait until 2025 to return to Reeves’ Gotham City. Colin Farrell will return in HBO show The Penguin, showing the character filling the power vacuum left in the wake of Carmine Falcone’s death in The Batman. That’s due to begin shooting later this month and should arrive in early 2024. Farrell is on a hot streak right now, so we can’t wait to see him back in those incredible prosthetics and chewing the scenery.
The Batman – Part II will hit theaters on Oct 3, 2025.
