Summary
- Warner Bros. Aims to expand Batman media, tying Matt Reeves' Gotham into the DC Universe under potential new leadership.
- Robert Pattinson left his mark as Batman in Reeves' universe, sparking discussion of him becoming the main Batman in the DC Universe.
- Success of The Penguin has led to questions about whether The Batman should remain stand-alone, sparking interest in integrating Reeves' universe.
The DC Universe is set to officially kickstart this December with the release of Creature Commandos, followed by the theatrical release of Superman next year. However, despite the long-awaited return of the Man of Steel on the big screen, it appears DC Studios could be looking at ways to bring in a new Batman, and fast. Rumors have circulated suggesting Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav wants more Batman media, and that he has considered making The Batman part of the DC Universe.
However, when James Gunn and Peter Safran took over as the CEOs of DC Studios, the duo confirmed a new Batman would eventually join the shared universe. The intention was always for Matt Reeves' Batman universe, which also includes The Penguin, to stand alone. With reports that Zaslav wants to focus on more Batman media, though, could Robert Pattinson be the perfect fit for DC Studios' new Batman?
Joker 2's Ending Tries (& Fails) To Set Up Its Universe's Batman Story
The ending of Joker 2 teases a set up for its Batman's story, but it's a little confusing timeline wise.
Warner Bros.' Plans for Matt Reeves Batman Universe
When Warner Bros. Brought in Gunn and Safran to create DC Studios, the plan was always for the studio to start from scratch. However, the DC films that were already in place prior to their leadership would continue unaffected, unless otherwise noted by Zaslav. The Batman was one of the projects left untouched by the new leadership, with the film having grossed an impressive $772.27 million at the worldwide box office. A sequel was quickly ordered for the film, along with multiple spinoff shows set to premiere on Max. As it stands, one of the spinoff shows, centered on the Gotham City Police Department, was canceled. However, Warner Bros. And Reeves moved forward with The Penguin starring Colin Farrell as the iconic villain. That series just debuted on Max and has, thus far, been received well among both critics and fans alike. Sadly, though, those eager to see Pattinson back in the role of the caped crusader will have to wait two years, with the next film in the trilogy not set to release until 2026. The plan for the film is to begin production next year and connect it to The Penguin, which will finish its first season next month.
Like Joker: Folie à Deux and past DC Extended Universe releases that were released after the launch of DC Studios, The Batman was meant to finish out its trilogy separately from what Gunn and Safran had planned. However, following the success of The Caped Crusader on Prime Video, it looks like Warner Bros. Is eager to push more Batman. This could mean that The Batman may not be a stand-alone franchise as previously suggested, at least if Zaslav gets his way, and that wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing.
Should Robert Pattinson be the DC Universe's Batman?
When Pattinson was first confirmed to star in The Batman, many were left surprised by the news. After all, Pattinson was best known for his work in the Twilight franchise, a series where he didn't necessarily get to show off his acting chops. Many feared Pattinson wouldn't be able to follow in the steps of Christian Bale, or even Ben Affleck, both of whom had recently tackled the iconic hero before him. The actor surprised everyone, though, delivering a promising performance as the hero, leaving many eager for a return to Reeves' Gotham. It has already been two years since Pattinson starred as the Caped Crusader, and it'll be another two before fans get to see him on the big screen again as Bruce Wayne. However, given the big gap in releases, could DC Studios find a way to work with Reeves to tie his version of Gotham into the story they've planned to tell in the DC Universe? The plan was originally to cast a new actor as Batman for the DC Universe. That plan, however, would have resulted in Batman appearing way down the line in the universe. With a well-received Batman franchise already under its belt, DC Studios and Warner Bros. Should consider making Pattinson the main Batman in the DC Universe.
Reeves has already crafted a universe that could continue to succeed on its own, sure. There's no denying the writer and director has delivered an exciting new version of Gotham, one that fans seem to be enjoying given the ratings of The Penguin. In fact, The Penguin managed to score the biggest 4-day audience for a new series on the streaming service in every region globally, a feat that hasn't been achieved since The Last of Us. With the interest in Reeves' Gotham, does it really make sense for The Batman to be a stand-alone any longer? Especially as Pattinson is already a great Batman. The reports of Zaslav wanting Pattinson to be the Batman in the DC Universe are merely rumors as of now, but it is something DC Studios should highly consider. After all, Batman has always been a huge draw on the big screen, and while fans are patient, sometimes time is Hollywood's biggest enemy.
As of this writing, The Batman Part 2 is set to hit theaters on October 2, 2026. The third and final film in Reeves' Batman trilogy does not yet have a release date.
The Batman
- Release Date
- March 4, 2022
- Runtime
- 176 minutes
- Director
- Matt Reeves
- Writers
- Matt Reeves, Peter Craig, Bob Kane, Bill Finger
- Sequel(s)
- The Batman Part II
- Franchise(s)
- DC Universe, DC Comics
Cast
-
Bruce Wayne / The Batman -
Zoë KravitzSelina Kyle
WHERE TO WATCH
Directed by the visionary Matt Reeves, Robert Pattinson plays a dark, gritty and tormented caped crusader, looking to save his home from the corruption that eats at it, and the criminals looking to destroy it. With a stellar cast of Andy Serkis, Zoe Kravitz, Collin Farrell and Jeffrey Wright, The Batman takes a new approach to Gotham's protector, one not seen since the Nolan trilogy.
- Budget
- $200 million
- Studio(s)
- DC
