James Gunn has denied The Batman Part II has been cancelled, leading some to inevitably think The Batman Part II has been cancelled.
There’s an obvious problem here. A report popped up overnight that Warner Bros had cancelled Matt Reeves’ upcoming The Batman Part II. It’s been cemented for some time, even as the DC universe of films has altered, that Robert Pattinson would be back in the title role. Warner Bros has long set a release date, and we’re currently expected the movie on 2nd October 2026.
The movie hasn’t started shooting yet, and from nowhere it seems, a story sprung up that The Batman Part II had been called off entirely. That Warner Bros had nixed the film, and thoughtfully had done so before the movie was finished.
I looked at the story when it first landed and didn’t write anything on it. It just seemed like internet tittle tattle. That may still be the case, but there’s little denying that James Gunn – the co-CEO, co-chairman of DC Studios, and director of the upcoming Superman film – has done a bit of a Streisand Effect thing here.
He popped up on Threads to post: “If it was canceled it would be canceled. Who has time for charades? I’ve been one of Matt’s biggest cheerleaders for years – since Cloverfield and the Apes’ movies. We are eagerly awaiting his script.”
Which tells us he’s not had a script yet, but the film is still going.
Up until Gunn’s comment – and I appreciate he’s a bit damned if he does, damned if he doesn’t – it didn’t even occur to me that there might be a grain of truth to the rumour. Furthermore, I accept that Gunn lives in a world where shareholders rule the roost, and he may just have been trying to calm the waters. Or, more likely, just talk to fans.
As things stand, though, The Batman Part II script isn’t done, and it’s not due to shoot until 2025. Plenty of time, but just fascinating to see a figure as senior as Gunn in the DC operation stopping to shoot down what would otherwise be a forgettable rumour.
