We’ll be seeing Superman again before Batman. Warner Bros. just announced that The Batman Part II, Matt Reeves’ sequel to his 2022 film The Batman, has been delayed a full year, from October 2025 to October 2026.
News of the sequel first broke in April 2022 with it getting its title and original release date about a year later. That date was October 3, 2025 and now it’ll be out October 2, 2026. The news comes as DC Studios co-president James Gunn is off shooting Superman, the first major film in a completely rebranded DC Universe, which is scheduled for release in July 11, 2025.
Advertisement
Not much is known about The Batman Part II except that Reeves has been working on it now for several years and, recently, Barry Keoghan confirmed he’d return as Joker, who briefly appeared in the first film.
Advertisement
We also know that this Batman, once again played by Robert Pattinson, will not be the Batman of that DC Universe. Reeves’ films will be part of DC’s Elseworlds, an offshoot of the main story that allows for films like these, and the upcoming Joker: Folie a Deux. Gunn and company are planning on launching a new Batman though, directed by Andy Muschetti, and based on The Brave and the Bold. This news probably pushes that even further.
Advertisement
As part of the shuffle, Warner Bros. has moved Maggie Gyllenhaal’s Bride of Frankenstein movie, The Bride, starring Christian Bale, Jessie Buckley, and Peter Sarsgaard to the Batman slot of October 3, 2025. Also newly dated is filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson’s next movie, which is being dubbed an “event” film and will be released in IMAX. That one stars Leonardo DiCaprio and will be released August 8, 2025.
Why the delay on The Batman Part II though? We can only speculate, but one has to imagine it’s some mix of scheduling and Reeves’ not wanting to rush something to hit a release date. Warner Bros. certainly would prefer it be released sooner rather than later—but it’s better to have a good product later than a disappointing one sooner.
Advertisement
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
Services Marketplace – Listings, Bookings & Reviews