Batman 2's Huge Potential Complicates James Gunn's Plans

Robert Pattinson’s Batman has become a real problem for the new DC. While James Gunn took the first steps of the DCU with Superman in cinemas and Pacifier on HBO Max, Matt Reeves’ follow-up to Gotham moves forward with its own strength and potential to become one of the most impactful films of the decade, even outside the main universe.

Gunn’s plan is ambitious and well-defined. In 2026, the DC mythology continues to expand in theaters with Clayface and Supergirl, while Lanterns takes on the mission of deepening this new universe on streaming. The idea is to create a cohesive narrative line, something the studio has failed to do in the past.

The impasse begins when it comes to DC’s most popular hero. James Gunn has repeatedly stated that the DCU will have its own Batman, separate from the character played by Robert Pattinson. At the same time, Matt Reeves continues to develop his saga in a parallel universe, with complete creative freedom and without any connection to the new canon.

This division creates a delicate scenario. For the casual public, two Batmans on display at the same time create confusion. For fans, comparisons are inevitable. And, for the new DCU, the challenge is even greater, as its Batman will have to exist in the shadow of an extremely successful project.

Robert Pattinson in a scene from The Batman

(Photo: Disclosure/Warner Bros.)

Pattinson’s Batman deserves to be highlighted

Released in 2022, The Batman has been widely recognized as one of the best superhero films in recent history. Even facing the heavy heritage of Christian Bale and Christopher Nolan’s trilogy, the film found its own identity by focusing on a younger, detective, violent and emotionally unstable Bruce Wayne in his first years in Gotham.

Matt Reeves built a dense and immersive universe, which dialogues with cinema noir and the best comic book phases. Robert Pattinson delivered a restrained and disturbed Batman, while Gotham gained its own personality, reinforcing the feeling that that world exists beyond the screen.

The continuation scheduled for 2027 further expands this potential. Pattinson returns as Batman and Colin Farrell reappears as the Penguin after the enormous success of his series, considered one of the best in the history of HBO Max. Barry Keoghan will also gain more space as the Joker. The cast is further strengthened by Scarlett Johansson, tipped to play Gilda Gold, and Sebastian Stan, cast as Harvey Dent, future Two-Face and the character’s husband.

Given this scenario, DC’s dilemma becomes evident. As James Gunn tries to build a new Bruce Wayne to sustain the DCU in the long term, Batman 2 is shaping up as a cinematic event with enough force to dominate critical debate and public interest. Ignoring this weight or treating it as just a side project could turn the film’s enormous potential into a strategic obstacle for the studio’s entire new phase.