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Sebastian Stan seems to be doubling down on the superhero film enterprise, but when the most recent casting rumors are true, he’ll be taking his subsequent swing far outdoors Marvel territory. On Tuesday, Deadline reported that Stan was in talks to hitch “The Batman: Half II,” the long-awaited sequel from Warner Bros. — anticipated to hit theaters by late 2027. The Golden Globe winner would reportedly play an undisclosed function reverse Robert Pattinson’s rain-soaked, emo-coded Darkish Knight. Representatives for Stan and DC Studios didn’t instantly reply to IndieWire’s request for remark.
Director Matt Reeves launched his tackle the Batverse in 2022 with the blockbuster success of the unique “The Batman,” which grossed $772.2 million worldwide. He then expanded Gotham’s attain and its awards potential with HBO’s Emmy-winning spinoff “The Penguin,” which streamed in late 2024. Starring Collin Farrell, as soon as once more as Gotham mob boss Oz Cobb, the TV collection pushed deeper into the town’s seedy felony infrastructure and unearthed a shadowy world filled with twisted storytelling potential.
Regardless of repeated delays on the movie aspect, Reeves’ nook of the DC universe (which exists in parallel to James Gunn’s DCEU) stays considered one of Hollywood’s most enjoyable motion landscapes. Stan has loads of comic-book bona fides because of his Avengers tenure, however the Batverse can be a realm of intense prosthetics, over-the-top voices, and sufficient ethical rot to mutate nearly any acquainted face. Stan may play anybody in “The Batman: Half 2,” and with loads of ready to do between now and the film’s debut, not figuring out who — or what — he could possibly be is half the enchantment.
The timing of this newest information solely provides gasoline to “The Batman” fervor in a yr the place we gained’t get a brand new film. Stan is coming off a very sturdy awards-season run, and in December, rumors surfaced that his Avengers’ co-star Scarlett Johansson was additionally circling a task for Reeves. Whether or not these whispers materialize or not, Gotham immediately feels open for enterprise… even when ticket gross sales aren’t.
Right here’s every part we learn about “The Batman: Half 2,” up to now.
When Will Matt Reeves’ “The Batman” Universe Return?
“The Batman” sequel was formally introduced in April 2022, shortly after the primary film’s premiere. Initially slated for a 2025 debut, “The Batman: Half 2” has since been pushed to fall 2027. That delay displays each industry-wide slowdowns — and Reeves’ famously meticulous method to improvement.
On the 2025 Emmys, Reeves confirmed to Selection that filming was anticipated to start in late April or early Could of 2026. “It’s been a protracted journey,” he stated, including that he was “extremely excited” concerning the script he co-wrote with Mattson Tomlin. Pre-production is now formally underway, with the shoot set to happen in Glasgow and Liverpool after earlier scheduling shifts.
Reeves can be returning with a barely reshuffled inventive group. He’s nonetheless underneath an unique cope with Warner Bros., however the sequel will see Luke Hull step in as manufacturing designer and Erik Messerschmidt taking over the mantle of cinematographer.
Who’s Coming Again to Gotham… and Who Isn’t?
Pattinson stays the anchor of Reeves’ Batverse, however not each well-liked character from “The Batman” will return. Zoë Kravitz, who performed Selina Kyle (aka Catwoman) within the first movie, is now not hooked up to the sequel. That’s a notable shift for the franchise, however a number of different key gamers will seem.
Jeffrey Wright will reprise his half as Commissioner Gordon (or is it Chief Gordon now?), and Andy Serkis is again because the trusty Alfred. Each might be important characters as Reeves steers his story additional into the psychology of Bruce Wayne. However Barry Keoghan, whose temporary look as The Joker acquired main buzz following the ultimate moments of “The Batman,” additionally hints at a a lot bigger future for the caped crusader himself. Paul Dano may even reappear as The Riddler.
“The Batman” forged returns matter as a result of Reeves’ Gotham isn’t constructed round one-off villain arcs. His take is a slow-burn thriller construction round rigorously scaffolded penalties, political energy vacuums, and institutional decay everybody can acknowledge. However Selina Kyle’s absence might also widen the narrative runway for Reeves, opening area for brand spanking new characters and actors to assist form his imaginative and prescient.
HBO’s “The Penguin” Is Nonetheless Important Viewing
Leaping between movie and TV hasn’t all the time carried out the Marvel Cinematic Universe a lot good, however “The Penguin” is the linchpin in Reeves’ Batverse. The HBO collection picked up simply weeks after the occasions of “The Batman,” zooming in on the wreckage left behind in an city ecosystem already underneath an excessive amount of pressure. It’s much less a aspect story than a story bridge, designed to do heavy lifting earlier than the sequel begins.
Reeves and Farrell confirmed finally yr’s San Diego Comedian-Con that the actor would return as Oz Cobb in “The Batman: Half 2,” albeit in a considerably smaller capability. For his half, Farrell has been overtly passionate about his Batverse arc and staying concerned in Reeves’ imaginative and prescient.
Notably absent from the following movie (at the very least for now) is Cristin Milioti, whose flip as Sofia Falcone earned main awards recognition and a groundswell of fan assist. Whereas Milioti is just not anticipated within the 2027 film, “The Penguin” star has expressed sturdy curiosity in returning to Reeves’ Gotham. With the movies being developed as a trilogy, that door stays very a lot open for her.
Who Else May Be a part of “The Batman: Half 2” Forged?
Stan isn’t the one identify floating round Gotham. Johansson’s rumored involvement stays unconfirmed, and there’s extra hypothesis starting from an element for Tobias Menzies (probably set to play Amadeus Arkham) to the pipe-dream casting of Brad Pitt (in a nondescript function that gained’t occur.)
Nonetheless, Reeves’ monitor report means that any new additions might be chosen much less for star energy than for his or her potential to vanish into his explicit shade of Batman-driven justice and despair. For now, Stan’s potential entry is greater than sufficient to maintain the Bat Sign — and audiences imaginations — brightly lit.
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