James Gunn replies to fan concerns on Threads regarding the recent news that The Batman: Part II has seen a big year delay with its release date pushed back from Oct. 2, 2026 to Oct. 1, 2027. This is already after the sequel was originally supposed to be released in 2025.
Gunn confirms the delay
A fan asked James Gunn if he can confirm the delay and to add more context. As Gunn has said previously on Threads, Matt Reeves isn’t finished with the script. Gunn replied:
Sure. Yes, it is true. The only reason for the delay is there isn’t a full script (those of you who follow me here probably know that already). Matt is committed to making the best film he possibly can, and no one can accurately guess exactly how long a script will take to write. Once there is a finished script, there is around two years for pre-production, shooting and post-production on big films.
Comments on length of time between sequels
Gunn also comments on a fan pointing out how there will be more than a five year gap between the release of The Batman (March 4, 2022) and The Batman: Part II (Oct. 1, 2027). Gunn replies with a list of examples (but Gunn’s argument doesn’t really hold up as except for GOTG 3, none of those movies were announced to be getting sequels. And the delay for Guardians of the Galaxy 3 was likely because of what happened at Disney, as Gunn went to do The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker at DC first):
To be fair, a 5 year gap or more is fairly common in sequels. 7 years between Alien and Aliens. 14 years between Incredibles. 7 years between the first two Terminators. 13 years between Avatars. 36 years between Top Guns. And, of course, 6 years between Guardians Vol 2 and Vol 3.
Robert Pattinson on The Odyssey to blame?
Robert Pattinson has also signed on for the new Christopher Nolan movie, The Odyssey, which films next year. A fan questioned if Pattinson filming the Nolan movie is the reason for The Batman: Part Two getting delayed. Gunn said that isn’t the case. Recently also saw Matt Reeves confirm they will film next year. Gunn said:
Not at all.
Is there another reason for the delay?
There could be two other reasons for the delay, though this is just rumor and pure speculation.
Gunn wants Robert Pattinson as his DCU Batman
The first is that it’s claimed Gunn wants Robert Pattinson as his DCU Batman. Recently saw Andy Muschietti state his Brave and the Bold movie is postponed and he’s now working on another film. So it could be possible The Batman: Part II has been delayed to get the script inline with Gunn’s DCU. Reeves also happens to be producing the DCU Clayface movie.
Warner Bros. Discovering getting sold
The second reason, and it’s not a good one, this is the worst-case scenario, is that my insiders have said CEO David Zaslav has been setting up WBD for a sale, likely to Comcast/Universal, from what I am told.
There have been headlines in the trades recently where Zaslav has been happy that Trump has been elected as apparently Zaslav thinks the Trump DOJ will approve the sale and a merger of WBD to whatever company it gets sold to. That sale could happen within the next couple of years.
As I’ve questioned before, so what happens to Gunn’s DCU and Reeves’ Batman if a new studio now owns the property? Obviously, it’s hoped they continue, but is Reeves pushing back his Batman movie in order to see what happens? I’d even question if the Reeves sequel has any sort of budget, as by looking at Gunn’s Superman it’s obvious there is none. Reeves might not want to sacrifice quality. If that is the case, expect another announcement where they won’t be filming The Batman: Part II next year, and eventually it won’t be happening at all.
