Batman is one of the most iconic comic book characters of all time. The character has been immortalized, and various actors over the years, including Robert Pattinson, have breathed life into Bruce Wayne on the big screen. Pattinson’s iteration of Wayne was memorable, and his collaboration with Matt Reeves paid dividends, as The Batman was a massive success.

Naturally, Warner Brothers greenlit its sequel, and Pattinson is set to don the cape once more in The Batman 2. However, DC fans will have to wait a bit longer since the release of the film has been pushed back to 2026

Pattinson as the Dark Knight (Source: Warner Brothers)

The Batman 2 starring Robert Pattinson, has been delayed

From playing Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire to Bruce Wayne, Robert Pattinson has come a long way as an actor. Even though the initial news of his casting had left some fans disappointed, he managed to sweep them off their feet with his turn as the Dark Knight.

The first installment of the series had a stellar cast. It saw Batman trying to dismantle the corrupted system that seeped into the very bones of Gotham City. Bruce Wayne took on two iconic villains in the film: the Riddler, played by Paul Dano, and Colin Farrell as the Penguin, the latter even getting its own series on Max. Zoe Kravitz played Wayne’s love interest, Catwoman.

The film was a massive success, as it grossed $772 million worldwide. Reeves’ film also enjoyed a great first weekend, registering the second-highest opening during the pandemic with $134 million at the box office.
Reeves’ film was a great success (Source: Warner Brothers)
The Batman 2 was announced shortly after, and it had eyed a release in 2025. Unfortunately, the SAG-AFTRA strikes in 2023 threw a spanner in the works for Reeves and DC. The release date has now been pushed back to October 2, 2026, exactly a year after its initial date.

The slate will not be empty for Warner Brothers, though, and the studio has jostled around a few films’ release dates. Maggie’s Gyllenhaal’s The Bride! featuring Christian Bale will take the slot instead.

Why is this a boon for DC and James Gunn?

James Gunn is currently the brain behind the DCEU. He has several notable films in the pipeline, including a Superman film and another Batman film, called The Brave and the Bold. Gunn’s film about the Guardian of Gotham will have no impact on Reeves’ films; even though his Superman film was supposed to be in the same world initially, they are now part of the Elseworlds Series.

The delay in Reeves’ film has been a boon, mainly for fans of the DCEU. It will avoid causing any confusion among movie watchers, and it will also give Gunn time to find his own Caped Crusader.

Pattinson played the iconic Caped Crusader (Source: Warner Brothers)
However, there is still a catch. The delay in Pattinson’s film will potentially also delay The Brave and The Bold. DC wants to keep a 6-month gap between the two Batman films; therefore, the earliest that Gunn’s version can come out is April 2027.

James Gunn has plans to overhaul the DCEU, and these are exciting times for fans of the comic books. Hopefully, everything will go according to schedule so Robert Pattinson can don the iconic batsuit once more.