The Batman: Part II has been hit with a number of delays over the years, and the most recent one is definitely turning heads. Earlier this month, production paused while Matt Reeves dealt with a family issue, and it was recently revealed that director Steven Soderbergh is stepping in to complete principal photography. Reeves issued a statement claiming he wasn't "leaving" the movie altogether, but folks online are already making comparisons to Zack Snyder's Justice League departure.

The Batman's sequel has been a long time coming, and there's a ton of hype surrounding the upcoming DC movie. So news of Matt Reeves departing the set quickly went viral, as did the reports of Soderbergh's involvement. Reeves took to Twitter to speak directly to the fans, with a statement that reads:

This helped to offer some much-needed context. While the director of The Batman (which is streaming with an HBO Max subscription) has indeed left the sequel's set, it sounds like he'll remain involved in the movie, especially during the post-production period. Still, there are plenty of folks online who are comparing it to what happened when Zack Snyder left Justice League.

The Batman: Part II started shooting back in May, so it's seemingly nearing the end of its principal photography. Clearly, Reeves is happy to have Soderbergh step in, but some fans who spent years watching the DC movies in order are seeing a connection to Justice League's drama back in 2017. They are debating this comparison on Twitter, with some popular responses being:

• "we can actually wait for Matt Reeves to come back from whatever he’s got going on. Let’s not have another Zack Snyder Joss Whedon situation on our hands"
• "I know the immediate thing to look at is the JL situation, but Matt is more involved with POST production means a great ton that he can still retain his vision."
• "WB wanted Zack Snyder out of Justice League in the first place because Batman v Superman was bad and underperformed. His personal tragedy wasn't the catalyst. Matt Reeves is clearly on no such thin ice. He's not losing The Batman 2. Stop pretending these are similar"
• "Unlike Zack Snyder, whose Batman v Superman received such a very bad reception that WB became more cautious about his direction for Justice League, Matt Reeves delivered a highly acclaimed Batman film that earned the studio's confidence to let him continue developing his vision"
• "We’ve been down this road before"

Obviously, there are a ton of thoughts online, with some moviegoers comparing The Batman: Part II to Justice League. Meanwhile, others are pointing out just how different these two situations are. We'll just have to wait for Matt Reeves' sequel to be completed and released to see if there's actually a connection between these two projects other than their directors facing unexpected family matters.

When Justice League was being filmed, Zack Snyder suffered a family tragedy and departed the set. Joss Whedon was brought in to complete photography, but major changes were made during reshoots, and ultimately the film was a bit of a Frankenstein project that had two very different visions competing. This started the #ReleaseTheSnyderCut movement, which lasted years before Zack Snyder's Justice League was released on HBO Max.

Recently Ben Affleck spoke to THR about how filming these reshoots was a "low point" in his career, and how much the cast hated seeing Snyder's vision abandoned. This is likely why there are so many concerns about The Batman: Part II, although Reeves' statement paints a much more copacetic picture. Who can blame him for putting his family first?

The Batman: Part II is currently expected to arrive in theaters on February 18, 2028. It's not on the 2026 movie release list or set for the next year, so fans will have to continue being patient while waiting for its release.

“I’m Batman!” Well, not really, but that’s a piece of dialogue that’s been a beloved part of pop culture for decades now. Various actors have played Batman in live-action projects and gotten to deliver dialogue as Gotham’s protector via specific voices they craft for the character. Ben Affleck – like his predecessors and successors – had his own distinct Batman voice, which was quite low. So you can imagine that I was humorously thrown for a loop when hearing him deliver the aforementioned line in a very different tone of voice.

Affleck’s Batman appears in a few DC Extended Universe films, and it’s hard for me to get his cadence out of my head. Yet what would it sound like if the Oscar-winning multihyphenate were to declare himself the Dark Knight while using his somewhat regular voice. Well, that’s what Affleck did when he appeared on a recent episode of the Happy Sad Confused podcast. During a discussion about his approach to Batman’s voice, Affleck used a different tone to say a few lines, and it’s the stuff Knightmares are made of:

OK, maybe it’s not totally a Knightmare, which is the DCEU’s post-apocalyptic reality in which Darkseid ravages the Earth. However, I’d be lying if I said it weren’t jarring to hear Affleck say the lines like that. On the other hand, though, once a person gets past the wild nature of the vocals, it’s actually quite funny in some respects. I think of it as having a somewhat Steve Urkel-esque quality. Ultimately, Affleck was trying to make a point about the importance of forming a good Batman voice. On his approach, Affleck said:

Personally, I think the actor made the right call with his choice of vocal style for the famous DC Comics character. I mean, imagine Bats talking to Joker during the Knightmare sequence in the tone of voice Affleck uses in his recent interview. The responses fans would share online would likely be wild and pretty laughworthy. I’d argue that any kind of scene like that would have the internet staying power of the “Sadfleck” meme (which still makes the rounds today).

Affleck is pretty far-removed from his Batman days (and the backlash his casting sparked) these days and has been working on a host of other projects, including his newest directorial debut on the 2026 movie schedule, Animals. Still, the filmmaker does discuss his Dark Knight days on occasion and, more recently, he got real about his highs and lows in the DCEU. At the same time, he also shared his praise for Marvel Studios producer Kevin Feige, who he called a “genius.”

Feige does indeed understand comics and, with that, I think he’d agree with Affleck in that a "farcical" take on Batman’s voice just wouldn’t work. The cat (or I guess, the Bat?) is out of the bag now, as we now have a taste of what a higher pitched Batman would sound like, thanks to Ben Affleck. I’m not sure I’ll ever get his “I’m Batman” line out of my head and, if the internet does its thing, this could end up becoming a new viral video clip that adds to Batfleck’s social media lore.

Check out Affleck’s performances as Batman – sans the voice he used in the interview – by streaming the DCEU films with an HBO Max subscription.

Ben Affleck’s time as Batman in the now-defunct DCEU was tumultuous. Not because of anything the star did, but because the franchise itself was chaotic. I don’t have to remind fans about all that went down behind the scenes of Justice League between the Joss Whedon version and the later Snyder Cut version of the film from director Zack Snyder. Now that the DCEU has evolved into the DCU with James Gunn and Peter Safran at the top, Affleck is reflecting on his time as Batman and the broader landscape for superhero movies.

It Wasn’t All Bad Within The DCEU

Affleck spoke to Variety this week in anticipation of his latest movie, Animals, which hits the 2026 movie schedule on October 9 and will be available to stream with a Netflix account. In the conversation, Affleck touched on his time as the Caped Crusader and what he thought worked, and what he thought wasn’t as great. Affleck told Variety:

Affleck added that the overall dark nature of the Justice League hurt the movie with younger audiences, and I agree with that. He added that it’s a struggle to find a balance between broad appeal and darker stories that have been so popular in comics over the last 30 years. He added:

He then took some time to compliment the head of Marvel’s Cinematic Universe, Kevin Feige, and his ability to seemingly always know what needs to be done in the MCU. Affleck said:

In the wide-ranging interview, Affleck touched on a lot of issues surrounding Hollywood, from the dearth of true movie stars to the consolidation of movie studios. That obviously includes superhero movies, though he doesn’t get into the debate over whether audiences have superhero fatigue or not.

As of now, there isn’t a Batman in the proper DCU, as Gunn and Safran seem content to let the Matt Reeves version of the character shine for now, before putting the focus on him in the flagship franchise. Who knows, maybe we’ll see Affleck again in the franchise, perhaps as an older, wiser version of the iconic superhero. He certainly seems wise about the state of Hollywood today.

By this point, it’s no secret that The Batman: Part II has seen its fair share of starts and stops since it was announced way back in 2022. The film made some serious progress this year, as filming kicked off in the United Kingdom under the leadership of writer-director Matt Reeves this past summer. Principal photography has been in motion for months now but, unfortunately, production has officially been halted for the time being. DC Studios has since released a statement to explain the situation.

DC announced this latest setback for The Batman's sequel on Monday afternoon. Both studios confirmed the news in a joint statement shared with Deadline and, per the comments, production has been paused to allow Reeves to deal with a “family matter.” The statement reads as follows:

Much of the filming on Reeves’ highly anticipated superhero sequel has taken place in areas like London and Liverpool, and scenes have also been shot on soundstages at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden. What’s not specified in the statement is just how long it’ll be before the cameras start rolling again. Regardless, as mentioned in the statement, Reeves has the support of DC Studios, which is co-led by James Gunn and Peter Safran.

The Batman: Part II’s release window has changed multiple times over the past several years. Originally, the film was scheduled to open in theaters on October 3, 2025, though it was pushed to October 2, 2026 as a result of the Hollywood strikes in 2023. A third date change for the Bat-flick came in late 2024, at which point it was reported that it had been bumped to October 1, 2027. And, shortly after filming began this past summer, it was revealed that the film had been delayed again to February 2028.

For several years, fans questioned the film’s status even after it was initially announced. However, studio executives – including Gunn – soothed concerns about Reeves’ progress on the film. In June 2025, Part II took a major step forward when Reeves confirmed that the screenplay had been completed. He signified the occasion by sharing a photo of himself along with co-writer Mattson Tomlin and the script.

Caped Crusader devotees have been itching for additional details about Reeves' movie, especially since filming began. Reeves and co. have, of course, remained coy on specific details, but the Planet of the Apes alum has been getting fans hyped for the movie. Back in May, Reeves teased his work on Part II by showing off a Batmobile-related test. And, just weeks ago, Reeves celebrated Batman Day by sharing another behind-the-scenes look at his upcoming superhero movie.

It’s obviously disappointing that production on this latest Batman movie has stalled yet again. But, hopefully, Matt Reeves is allowed the time by DC Studios to sort out his familial situation as necessary.

As of this writing, The Batman: Part II is still set to be released on February 18, 2028. Fans can pass the time by streaming the original movie along with the spinoff series, The Penguin, with an HBO Max subscription now.

It’s been well over a decade since Christian Bale last donned the cape and cowl to play Batman in Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy, but many still discuss his performance. As far as live-action Batman actors go, Bale is still praised for his portrayal of Gotham City’s defender and his alter ego, Bruce Wayne. Bale is a smart performer and he seemed to truly commit himself playing the iconic DC character. And, now, I need to rewatch one particular installment after hearing about one funny method he used to get through a scene.

2012’s The Dark Knight Rises sees the Bat going up against the imposing Bane, who’s played by Tom Hardy. The two characters share some tense scenes in the film, which are exciting to watch. I don’t think I’ll ever forget the first time I saw Hardy’s muscle-bound antagonist beat down the Caped Crusader and break his back. However, not all of that material was easy for both of the seasoned actors to film, as they weren’t always able to hear each other. Bale recalled:

First off, this behind-the-scenes detail reframes the way I look at some of those epic moments but, when I really think about it, it makes sense that the two stars wouldn’t be able to hear each other’s dialogue. During their confrontation scenes, there’s a lot going on, especially during that final battle for Gotham at the end of Dark Knight Rises. Nolan is obviously a clever filmmaker, but it was his actors who managed to find a solution to this little issue, as Bale explained to Heart:

I’m trying my best to imagine Hardy and Bale – all decked out in their costumes – and raising their fingers in order to cue each other. Considering Nolan works with some sharp editors, I’m not completely sure I’d be able to find a moment in which either of the actors actually use the signal. However, I’m more than eager to throw on the film again in the slight hope that I might find something. That aside, though, I’m just glad the two co-stars were able to work through that dialogue-related snafu.

While some viewers may have their nitpicks with Christian Bale’s version of The World’s Greatest Detective (like his Batman voice), he does an excellent job of portraying the duality between Bruce and the Bat. Believe it or not, Bale has actually taken issue with his performance, opining that he “didn’t quite nail it.” Of course, I’m not surprised by such a comment, considering how seriously the Oscar winner takes his work.

Bale has, of course, played a plethora of other roles since playing the famed superhero, though he is willing to play the character again. However, the one condition he has for a Bat reprisal is that Christopher Nolan be involved and, given the filmmaker has moved on, I’d say it’s likely that Bale has hung up the costume for good. Still, if he were to come back, I wouldn’t be surprised if he’d use that same trick in order to be cued to deliver dialogue.

If you’re like me and now have a desire to rewatch The Dark Knight Rises, grab an HBO Max subscription to stream it alongside the other films in the Dark Knight Trilogy. And anyone looking for new fare should read up on upcoming superhero movies.

Robert Pattinson’s big movie streak isn’t quite over yet. He made a splash already this year with The Drama, Primetime, and The Odyssey, and he still has the release of Dune: Part Three to look forward to. And, if that weren't enough, he still has so much down the pike, including the much anticipated sequel to The Batman. Ahead of that movie’s release, Pattinson got reflective about filming the superhero flick's iconic opening scene, and I was surprised to learn he made one important tweak that wasn’t in the script.

Just recently, Pattinson sat down with director Lance Oppenheim to talk about their movie, Primetime, as well as participate in a mini career retrospective together. They chatted about their respective hit films, Ren Faire and The Batman and delved into their creative processes. When talk turned to the Matt Reeves film's opening, where Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne beats up a bunch of criminals in Gotham, the actor got candid. Pattinson explained how he flipped the positioning of his "vengeance" line. He told GQ:

This was a perfect change! Fans may remember years ago when the first trailer for The Batman dropped and fans saw Pattinson's Dark Knight beat that thug to a pulp. It was only after that that the vigilante referred to himself as "vengeance." That line wouldn't have hit as hard (no pun intended) had it been delivered before the beating. I also like the Mickey 17 actor's take on that line going into the punk's dreams as he drifts off. Check it out at the end of the opening:

This behind-the-scenes reveal is a testament to the notion that Pattinson's instincts helped make The Batman a fan favorite Caped Crusader film. He brings a much more gothic glumness to the character than predecessors like Christian Bale and Ben Affleck. It’s a unique kind of darkness that sets the tone for the entire film.

Yet, even with such a morose undertone, there’s a campiness about the line “I'm vengeance.” It’s a classic comic book line that needs to be delivered compellingly and at the right time. I think Reeves is also deserving of kudos for listening to his star on this matter.

This discussion makes me even more excited about what’s to come in The Batman: Part II. The movie was delayed several times, and the script took longer to write than many expected. This, along with a number of other factors, pushed the film out further and further from its set release dates. So there was a lot of relief in June 2025 when Reeves confirmed the screenplay was done.

Now, Part II is in production over in the UK, with BTS pictures from the set circulating online. Robert Pattinson says this sequel will take some big swings story wise, and I personally can’t wait to see it. And, if Pattinson is bringing the razor sharp instincts he did for the first film to the sequel, I think another critically acclaimed hit is on the way.

Fans will have to wait a while, as The Batman: Part II doesn't hit the big screen until February 18, 2028. In the meantime, you can revisit Reeves and Pattinson's first Bat movie along with the spinoff series, The Penguin, now with a HBO Max subscription. Also, keep an eye on updates regarding other upcoming DC movies.

Robert Pattinson is having one heck of a 2026 movie schedule. From his villainous turn in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey to his highly anticipated role in Denis Villeneuve’s final installment of Dune, the actor has no shortage of powerhouse performances. Although perhaps one of the most unexpected roles he's taken on is real-life journalist Chris Hansen in A24’s Primetime. He is chilling in the trailer, but what I didn't expect was fans comparing him to The Joker... or his take on that comparison.

In a recent chat with Entertainment Weekly, Pattinson fielded a question about whether his portrayal of the controversial To Catch a Predator Host has any Crown Prince of Crime in its DNA, or whether he’d ever considered taking on that role given all the online chatter. Of course, the actor quickly pivoted to how much he loved Barry Keoghan's short but memorable scene as the character from 2022’s The Batman. He explained:

What survives of Keoghan's performance in the finished film is a short interaction at the end. We see him, out of focus, laughing with his fellow Arkham inmate, Paul Dano’s Riddler. However, a deleted scene that surfaced online showcases Pattinson’s Batman visiting the Joker and asking him to help solve the case against the Riddler, in a very Hannibal Lecter/Clarice Starling encounter.

Unfortunately, the scene didn’t make it into the final movie, and there’s no word on whether it's canon to this corner of the Bat-universe. Still, Pattinson would love to see the actor continue in future installments in the series. He continued:

What a gracious take by Battinson. There have been countless on-screen portrayals of The Joker, some better than others, but I have to agree with him. I’d love to see this particular interaction continue in future installments in Matt Reeves’ Batman movies. That is, if we get more beyond The Batman Part II.

The Batman released eight months before James Gunn and producer Peter Safran officially took over as co-chairmen and co-CEOs of DC Studios on November 1, 2022. After the pair took over the future DC movie slate, things got complicated, especially after they announced a separate iteration of Batman & Robin that fits into the newly established DCU. Meanwhile, Reeves' take on the character would remain in its own universe of Elseworlds stories.

What followed was years of starts and stops for a follow-up to the first Pattinson-led movie. We will finally get the sequel on February 18, 2028, after it was moved from the 2027 movie schedule to 2028. That is, barring no further setbacks or reschedules. At this pace, it's unclear whether we will see a third in the series materialize; if not, we may never get another look at Barry Keoghan's take on the character unless he appears in Batman Part II. We will have to wait until February 18, 2028 to find out.

For now, we will have to settle for Pattinson’s take on Chris Hansen as the closest we have to him as Mr. J. But hey, if the entire DC slate is rebooted again in five years, maybe he’ll get the chance to paint his face and give us that "generational" performance fans online are convinced he’d deliver.

Primetime hits theaters on September 25, 2026.

Spoiler warning for anyone who hasn't yet watched Lanterns' sixth episode on HBO or via HBO Max subscription.

Holy live-action bat-confirmations, John Stewart! The sixth episode of Lanterns' first season, titled "Bad Optics," delivered some huge comic book references for fans to delight in, as well as the arrival of Nathan Fillion's DCU-connecting superdork Guy Gardner. As well, the events of the episode tried pretty hard to convince me that Hal Jordan is really dead, despite my previous theory that the corpse Kerry and John saw wasn't actually Hal. I'm gonna need to keep thinking about that one.

But for now, let's nerd out on how the episode delivered not just a Batman reference (and a possible Hawkman nod), but also one of the most important human characters in Green Lantern canon. (And then after reading everything below, dig into this "Who killed Hal Jordan?" theory.)

Batman Finally Got Some Live-Action Love In The DCU

I prefer to think it wasn't a coincidence that, during the same weekend where Matt Reeves shared a new look at The Batman: Part II to celebrate Batman Day, that Lanterns made its own direct reference to the DCU's Dark Knight. When Hal and John are talking uncomforably in the diner early on, Hal half-derisively brings up Guy Gardner's Green Lantern antics, and notes the beacon that was installed in the middle of Rushville. As he put it:

Unlike the Bat Signal that was installed atop the Gotham City Police Department, away from the destructive hands of angry citizens, Guy had the Lantern beacon put right there on the ground in a place that more or less overshadowed the town's tribute to everyone who died during the events in Episode 5. Total prick move, and it's no surprise that turning the thing on immediately riles up those who stayed in town.

It sadly doesn't tell us much about what to expect when the Caped Crusader is introduced in the DCU, and is somewhat in line with the brief shots of his Bat-silhouette in Creature Commandos. But it's something!

It's at least an on-the-nose nod, even if Hal didn't say Batman outright. When John is giving his underground ark presentation before returning to Rushville, he notes that they're in Midway City, which is a major location in the comics. For one, it's one spot where Hawkman and Hawkwoman called home. And the city's downtown area is where the Doom Patrol were headquartered. Bring on Elasti-Girl and Robotman!

OMG, It's Carol Ferris!

When Lanterns revealed Laura Linney as a cast member, the go-to assumption was that she'd be playing Carol Ferris, who's arguably the most important person in Hal Jordan's life in many comic stories, both for better and for worse. However, it quickly became clear that Linney was not playing a human, much less Carol. So I kind of thought the trio of co-creators decided to put Carol on the back-burner while telling this particular story.

So it figures that Episode 6 threw that assumption in my face by bringing in Mountainhead and The Last Day actress Amie Mackenzie to play Carol. And I'm hoping this isn't the only time we see her this season, considering she dropped in for his funeral, specifically to pass along the hilarious, self-written eulogy Hal prepared at one point. (The assumptions that the President and scores of other respect-oozing people would be present would be depressing if it didn't stem form Hal's overblown ego.)

She confirms that she was contacted by Kerry because of her history with Hal, but we sadly didn't get any elaboration beyond that. So yeah, I'm gonna need Mackenzie to return in Episode 7 for a lengthier look back at Hal's earlier years, even if it doesn't seem like that those flashbacks would offer that much to this story. We need to see them together where neither of the characters are corpses. And I don't just want to see her with the Hal-ogram, either.

Lanterns has just two episodes left, and will presumably end in a way that makes it clear why John Stewart will be joining Guy Gardner in James Gunn's Man of Tomorrow.

Batman Day is once again upon us, and many are taking to the web to express their love for Bill Finger and Bob Kane’s beloved comic book creation. It’s customary that amid these festivities that fans are treated to a surprise or two from DC and/or specific creatives tied to the Dark Knight. With that, I was hoping Matt Reeves might share a tease of The Batman: Part II, which is currently in production. Thankfully, Reeves did indeed do just that and, although it’s only a BTS snippet, I’m glad it’s been shared.

Reeves has expressed considerable excitement about his upcoming superhero movie since the cameras began rolling in the UK earlier this summer. That enthusiasm has prompted the filmmaker to share some (non-spoilery) posts on social media. Considering that Reeves celebrated Batman Day five years ago with a tease of his first Bat film, it definitely tracked that he would do the same today. The Let Me In director marked the occasion this time by taking to X to show a set photo of the Caped Crusader’s silhouette:

It’s a relatively straightforward behind-the-scenes picture, but it’s one that still sleekly conveys the Dark Knight’s signature aura. Not only that, but this photo also has me wondering where Robert Pattinson’s brooding protagonist is supposed to be. At first glance, I thought it was a snowy landscape, since the new film takes place in the winter. I’m not sure, though, as it also looks like it could be a maze of some sort. More than likely, I’ll be poring over this photo for a little while.

What I really appreciate, in addition to Reeves’ stellar work on the critically acclaimed film The Batman, is his sheer love for the character and the mythology that surrounds him. Fans have an incredible amount of reverence for Bruce Wayne, and it’s always great when a filmmaker who’s handling the character has the same kind of respect for him. At this point, I’m expecting Reeves to pour a similar amount of passion into his long-delayed sequel, and I wouldn’t be surprised if that were the plan, given the massive expectations.

Reeves began teasing production on Part II this past May, at which point he showed some footage from a Batmobile test. Not long after that, the War for the Planet of the Apes helmer shared a series of gifs to social media, with which he confirmed his cast. As part of that, he even teased Scarlett Johansson’s role, which remains a much-discussed mystery along with Sebastian Stan’s character.

The past few months have also seen fans receive unofficial looks at the Batman sequel by way of leaked set photos. Some of the most recent set photos showed the Batmobile in rough shape, and a set video suggested that Bruce Wayne would be in some serious trouble. Additionally, some other set photos seemed to suggest that the film could also feature an appearance from a certain Gotham City-based vigilante from the comics. (Though, in case you’re sensitive to potential spoilers, I won’t actually name them here.)

While there’s a lot the general public still doesn’t know about what Matt Reeves is cooking up for his latest superhero film, I have high hopes for it, given his work on the OG flick. I’m also hoping that, in the meantime, Reeves continues to treat the general public to the occasional BTS tidbit on social media. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to give this Batman Day another look.

The Batman: Part II is set to open in theaters on February 18, 2028. In the meantime, celebrate the Dark Knight’s day by streaming the first installment and other Bat-centric films with an HBO Max subscription.

The Sadfleck has become such a huge part of our collective cultural consciousness that it has its own nickname. In fact, it’s such a big deal, I wrote an entire sentence about it without even mentioning the name Ben Affleck and I still bet you knew exactly the moment I was talking about. The actor himself has encountered the meme in the wild and has commented on the viral video before in a way that was both hilarious and rueful. So, it’s certainly a defining moment for the Batman V Superman star, but I find it hard to believe it happened an entire decade ago.

You know the “Sad Affleck” meme. Back when Ben Affleck was doing press for Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice alongside fellow star Henry Cavill, the two were asked about the reception to the Zack Snyder film. Cavill started giving a candid answer, but Affleck just sat there looking, well, sad. Then some enterprising YouTuber out Simon Garfunkel’s “Sound of Silence” on in the background of the video. A viral moment was born.

Now, 10 years later, that YouTuber was asked about the Sadfleck meme by Tom Butler, the Yahoo interviewer who’d originally asked about Batman V Superman’s critical reception. I’d never really thought deeply about how he’d come up with it, thinking it was a creative choice, but the viral video creator, Kyle Miller, admitted it wasn’t even something he came up with. After the interview was posted, it was actually a fan reply that got Miller thinking.

The process was a little more sophisticated than just slapping the song onto interview footage, though not much. Miller also took the opportunity to zoom in on Affleck’s face as Cavill started talking about “the interesting thing” about all the mixed reviews.

Miller says he was never paid or earned money for the viral video, but he did feel its considerable cultural impact. “Sound of Silence” briefly charted again, and the YouTuber was listening to the radio when the moment was brought up:

It was the music combination with the close-up that really made the video so memorable. Well, that and the fact that this seems to be Ben Affleck’s resting face during high-profile moments. Just check out this time he and then-wife Jennifer Lopez attended the Grammys together. Of course, more “Sad Affleck” comments rolled around. He’s a great actor, director and writer, but there’s been plenty of speculation he doesn’t love the press and promotional part of Hollywood.

It officially happened a few months ago, but I’m still shook up Zack Snyder’s movie dropped 10 years ago now. I probably shouldn’t be, as so much time has passed I'd honestly kind of forgotten Dawn of Justice was even a part of that movie title. We’ve moved on to James Gunn’s take on DC and Matt Reeves’ take on Batman, but the legacy of the Sad Affleck meme will likely live on as long as Ben Affleck does.

When The Batman: Part II was first delayed until February 2028, it was yet another gutpunch for fans most anxiously awaiting a follow-up to Matt Reeves’ first film. The kind that made it seem like we might never see Robert Pattinson’s caped crusader back on the big screen. Thankfully, the upcoming DC movie has definitely in the throes of its production since May, as proven quite often by set photos and videos being shared on social media. Not the most ideal way to get updates, but they’re prevalent.

As debates continue regarding which villain star Sebastian Stan is portraying in The Batman: Part II, a sometimes villainous DC Comics character has potentially been revealed, as a set photo shared on X features a masked character wearing a long-sleeved overshirt showcasing the anarchy symbol, a stretched upper-case “A” with a circle through the middle. Which probably makes it obvious which vigilante that wardrobe appears to be alluding to: non-metahuman Lonnie Machin, better known as Anarky.

Anarky Does Make Sense For The Batman: Part II, But I'm Skeptical

Created by Alan Grant and Norm Breyfogle for Detective Comics in 1989, Anarky's name is a direct representation of the character's philosophy and social belief system, though he generally wants to better society through his actions, as opposed to just creating an absence of law and order. He just happens to utilize methods that aren't entirely legal or 100% moral, so he gets the anti-hero vigilante descriptor. (And he's not always into betterment.)

Given that context alone, I could easily see former child prodigy Lonnie Machin growing up in The Batman's version of Gotham City and becoming so incensed by the power and financial imbalance that he adopts a costumed persona. It'd make all the more sense after Batman and Riddler's showdown in the first movie, too. And yet..

I Don't Actually Think That Set Photo Is An Anarky Reveal

Unless the "character" who appears in the Batman: Part II set photo is meant to be the earliest possible incarnation of Anarky, I can't with good faith pretend to agree with the speculation.

Mainly because the only real piece of indicating information is that the actor's clothing features the anarchy symbol, which wouldn't necessarily be a strange symbol to see during a streetwide protest like the one taking place during this scene. If anything, it's like this person is wearing Anarky merch instead of a costume, per se.

The mask is too blurry to really see properly, but it doesn't really look like the white masks that Anarky has worn in other media, and appears more skeleton-esque. (Although that could also be wrong.) It also seems like the actor is wearing a hat atop the mask, and not the hooded look that Anarky is known for.

Beyond that, there's not much to the outfit beyond fairly standard-looking pants and shoes, such as kneepads and elbow pads, or a backpack with straps across his torso, possibly with weapon-holders. Granted, some of that might have gotten him too much attention from surrounding Gotham P.D. So I guess if this does end up being the comic character, I'd understand why he dressed down for the occasion.

Elsewhere during the weekend's filming, shots from the set surfaced that seemed to prove that the Court of Owls will be involved, based in large part on a protester sign saying “Court of Fouls.” Which itself would imply that Gotham City citizens are aware of a group that’s purposefully remained hidden since the city’s founding, thus making the initial assumption harder to buy into. But the Court was already teased less overtly in The Penguin, so I'm sure they are out there.

For those who want to see Anarky in live-action, you'll have to watch his Arrow introduction from back in Season 4, where he was portrayed by Supernatural vet Alexander Calvert. Otherwise, stay tuned for more The Batman: Part II updates ahead of its impending 2028 release.

Sebastian Stan isn’t done with the superhero genre just yet, and I’m not referring to his work in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday. The Oscar-nominated actor is moving into the world of DC by taking on a role in Matt Reeves’ The Batman: Part II. While Stan seemingly revealed his role to be that of Harvey Dent, he hasn’t doubled down on that. What he doesn’t seem to have a problem with, however, is hyping up his experience on set. In fact, to my surprise, Stan even went as far as to compare production to that of an iconic film.

Production on The Batman: Part II has been underway in the U.K. since earlier this summer, where other stars like Robert Pattinson, Scarlett Johansson and Jeffrey Wright have been present. As of late, Stan has been promoting his latest movie, Fjord, and recently discussed it with Variety. It was during that interview that the trade also asked him about his upcoming DC movie, and Stan recalled being “ready to rock” after getting a call from Reeves and co. As for what it’s been like shooting the film, Stan has some serious praise:

That’s quite the statement, and it really speaks volumes to how highly the A Different Man star values the experience. Cinephiles likely know that The Godfather Part II is considered to be not just one of the greatest sequels of all time but also one of the all-time great films in general. I can’t even imagine what it must’ve been like stepping on the set of Francis Ford Coppola’s acclaimed 1974 mob drama though, speaking in hindsight, I’d imagine that may have been an overwhelming experience.

What I also appreciate is that Stan simultaneously tries to temper expectations with The Batman: Part II and not “raise it up” too high. Still, I can certainly understand why he’d be so ecstatic about being on a Matt Reeves set. Everything that’s been said or reported thus far suggests Reeves has something massive planned. Leaked set photos have already revealed a badly damaged Batmobile as well as a dangerous situation for Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne. Speaking of which, Pattinson has also joked about fight scenes being a bit hard to perform this time around.

Stan, for his part, began training for Reeves’ film months ago and, at the time, a photo from his trainer showed him looking absolutely ripped. Of course, many are still wondering how the star will put that physique to use in the upcoming superhero movie. Various rumors have swirled around Stan and Johansson’s roles, and fans seemed to have their own takes as well. Aside from Harvey Dent/Two-Face, Victor Zsasz is another name that’s been linked to the Bucky Barnes actor.

I’m personally of the belief that Sebastian Stan is playing Harvey, though I’m certainly open to being proven wrong. That aside, though, I’m just happy to hear that the Sharper star has enjoyed his time working on the next chapter in this Batman saga. At this point, it’s still way too early to say what the movie will be like. However, given Matt Reeves’ work on the first installment, I’m optimistic that he’ll deliver a sequel with an emotional punch similar to that of The Godfather Part II.

The Batman: Part II opens in theaters on February 18, 2028. In the meantime, stream the first movie as well as the spinoff TV series, The Penguin, using an HBO Max subscription.

As we get deeper into the DCU's first slate of projects (titled Gods and Monsters), there are some upcoming DC movies that are set outside of the newly formed shared universe. Chief among them is Matt Reeves' The Batman: Part II, which was recently delayed until February of 2028. That long-awaited movie is in the midst of production, and new set photos have revealed that the Batmobile is going to be in bad shape in the blockbuster. Let's break it down.

It looks like things are going to get real for the title character of The Batman: Part II. Previous set photos showed Alfred trying to revive an unconscious Bruce Wayne, and it seems that The Dark Knight's signature vehicle is also in jeopardy. Images from Instagram show the Batmobile will take a serious beating, as it looks pretty much totaled. What's more, there's footage of the Batmobile rolling after an apparent crash, which is no doubt why the car looks so wrecked. Of course, now I'm curious about what conflict happens that results in this apparent crash.

What we know about The Batman: Part II is fairly limited, which is why any set photos and videos are quickly going viral for fans who spent years watching the DC movies in order. Fans are eager to know who the movie's villain(s) will be, as how both Sebastian Stan and Scarlett Johansson will contribute to the mysterious sequel. And the discourse surrounding the movie's antagonist has only gotten louder as glimpses from the set have arrived online.

For his part, Robert Pattinson has described filming The Batman: Part II as "significantly harder" than the original. Considering Matt Reeves' 2022 movie had major challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic shutting down the set, this comment definitely holds extra weight. We'll just have to see if the difficulty pays off when the movie arrives in 2028.

When The Batman's trailers started rolling out, moviegoers immediately responded to The Batmobile's design. Namely because it was a tricked out muscle car, which stood in stark juxtaposition to the tank-like design we saw in Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy. So seeing it all beat up on the set of the sequel is a bit of a bummer. But hopefully Robert Pattinson's hero will end up getting his signature ride fixed. After all, Bruce Wayne certainly has the bank account to back it up.

Despite Part II's delays and the years that have passed since the first movie, excitement over The Batman franchise has managed to stay afloat. Some credit must go to the TV spinoff The Penguin (streaming with a HBO Max subscription) for moving the story forward... and winning some Emmys along the way.

The Batman: Part II is currently expected to arrive in theaters on February 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. Hopefully we get some more information about its contents sooner rather than later. For now I'll be keeping The Batmobile in my prayers.

If you ask me, there are no “bad” Batman movies. Sure, I think Batman Forever is the “worst” of the bunch, and yes, I know, you think it's Batman & Robin. I disagree with you. When it comes right down to it, I think Batman has an overall pretty good track record when it comes to films.

That said, when I ranked the Batman movies a while back, I put Matt Reeves’ The Batman at number 3. However, after a rewatch, I'm now comfortable putting it at number 1. Here's why.

I Know Everybody's Favorite Batman Movie Is The Dark Knight, But I Think This Is The Most Compelling Batman Movie Yet

It's safe to say that everybody and their mama thinks Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight is the greatest Batman movie of all time, and hey, I once thought that, too. When it came to The New York Times list of the 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century, The Dark Knight landed at number 28. It’s considered by many to be the greatest superhero movie ever made, and it deserves every accolade that it’s ever received. I am taking nothing away from it.

And yet…I think Matt Reeves’ The Batman is the most compelling version of the Caped Crusader to date. I mainly think it's because the villains don't overshadow Batman for a change (which I'll get into more detail a bit later). The reason everybody adores The Dark Knight is because of Heath Ledger's electric performance as The Joker. Sure, Christian Bale is a serviceable enough Batman, but he doesn't even feel like the most important character in his own movie. Also, like many, I'm a massive fan of Michael Keaton as Batman, but with the Tim Burton movies, the main star is really Gotham City itself.

Matt Reeves puts Batman front and center in his movie, and he's a Batman unlike any other we've ever seen. Unlike most Batmen who are a version of Bruce Wayne moonlighting as Batman, Robert Pattinson's version feels like the inverse, as this is a Batman who takes off his mask only to reveal another mask, that being Bruce Wayne, who seems totally uninterested in being a playboy. It's a fascinating approach to a Batman movie, and one that is even better with a second viewing.

This Is Also My Favorite Version Of Gotham City, By Far

Gotham City has so much personality that it's always a character in itself. As I mentioned earlier, Tim Burton's films really just felt like an invitation into his creative mind, as the strangeness, colors, and darkness really did feel like they took center stage in his Batman movies. In other words, it’s Tim Burton’s world, and Batman and his rogue’s gallery were just living in it. And that’s cool.

I love the Tim Burton movies (Especially his version of The Joker). That said, his Gotham City kind of takes my focus away from the stories of his two films, as I’m so enraptured by his world that I sometimes lose sight of the narratives. Joel Schumacher’s Gotham City is like a kaleidoscope of colors, which worked for his heightened (and often silly) approach, but it’s probably my least favorite version of Gotham City. Christopher Nolan’s take was pretty much just Chicago and Pittsburgh, which really added to his more realistic approach.

Matt Reeves’ Gotham? Well, it feels like the world is trapped in a perpetual nighttime, even when it’s not. I love this aspect because it’s always, always unsettling, and the kind of place where you really do feel like some terrible stuff goes on both in plain view and behind closed doors. I think it’s the perfect Gotham City, and I like it even more on a subsequent viewing.

I Also Adore How The Bad Guys Are The Most Grounded They've Ever Been In A Batman Film

Now, here might be a strike AGAINST The Batman for many people, but I really like how normal the villains feel. We’ve gotten three live-action versions of The Riddler thus far: Frank Gorshin, Jim Carrey, and Paul Dano, and out of those three, only one of them has managed to feel scary, and that’s Dano.

Gorshin was silly, of course, because the ‘60s Batman was silly. Jim Carrey (whom I LOVED as a child) was probably the most annoying part about Batman Forever for me. However, I love how Paul Dano’s Riddler just feels like a terrorist who likes to play games with his targets. It reminds me of the Zodiac Killer, which is no coincidence, as that was intentional. I really love that.

This is a different Batman movie, one where the Caped Crusader is a detective (as Batman is), and what better villain to have him go against than a terroristic version of The Riddler? It’s the most grounded Batman villain we’ve ever gotten in a film, which is great. I also love Colin Farrell’s version of The Penguin, who isn't in the film long (Though, he’s arguably in the best part of the entire movie with that car chase), but he leaves a memorable impression all the same. He doesn’t look like a penguin like Danny DeVito, but that’s what makes him even better.

Same for Zoe Kravitz’s Catwoman and John Turturro’s Carmine Falcone. They both feel grounded, which is good, since they never overshadow Batman. They inhabit his world, but they don’t overtake it like Heath Ledger’s Joker or Danny DeVito’s Penguin. Oh, and speaking of The Penguin...

Plus, We Got My Favorite Batman Thing Ever From This Film, That Being The Penguin

I don’t think I’ve ever loved anything Batman-related as much as I loved the HBO series, The Penguin starring Colin Farrell in the title role. I loved everything about it! I loved how much I detested Oz Cobb. I loved how much it leaned into feminism. I loved its side characters. Seriously, there’s nothing I don't love about the series.

We wouldn’t have gotten it if not for Matt Reeves’ The Batman. The Penguin is kind of like the cherry on top of an already stellar movie. I don’t know if The Penguin would even work if not for all of the things I mentioned earlier. The show never features Batman, but that’s okay since The Riddler flooded Gotham City, so you get a sense that Robert Pattison’s Batman has bigger issues to worry about than an on-the-rise Oz Cobb.

Gotham City is a mess, but it’s a realistic mess that’s full of dread, and it works in the show’s favor, since you always feel unsettled. And the bad guys on the show also feel grounded, as you never get a sense that these characters are more than just drug lords or gangsters, so it’s all consistent with the film.

Seriously, it’s for all of these reasons and more that I cannot WAIT for The Batman II. Hopefully, it will actually make its current February 18, 2028 release date. Because Lord knows how long we’ve been waiting for this sequel.

After plenty of delays, Matt Reeves’ The Batman: Part II is finally in production, with filming underway in the UK. Leading man Robert Pattinson has been on hand since the cameras started rolling earlier this summer and, by all accounts, he’s already been putting in work. Of course, the fan-favorite actor is currently unable to share any details regarding the plot of the highly anticipated superhero sequel. Yet he did just share one way that filming has been “significantly harder” compared to his first outing as the Caped Crusader.

Pattinson – who’s been scoring gigs left and right as of late – was recently named the latest global ambassador for Jaeger-LeCoultre. The British actor promoted that partnership during an interview with GQ, where he was also asked about the Batman sequel. The ever-savvy Pattinson didn’t spill many beans, though he did admit that one aspect of filming has changed in the years since he shot the film’s 2022 predecessor. And, quite frankly, this makes a lot of sense:

Honestly, I can understand why filming fight sequences would hit differently (no pun intended) this time around. 40-year-old Pattinson began filming The Batman in January 2020, shortly before the onset of the COVID pandemic. With that, the star was only in his mid-30s when he first started production. Given that he’s now hit the big 4-0, it’s only natural that it would be trickier to shoot scenes that involve a lot of physicality. Nevertheless, it sounds like the Good Time star is still enjoying the experience overall.

Pattinson’s commitment to the physical requirements of this DC franchise was evident from the jump. After being cast, he threw himself into his training and, eventually he found a regimen that worked for him. As for his work on this latest movie, that work ethic is seemingly still intact. Pattinson was asked about recent set photos that saw a Batman actor riding a motorcycle and said that one of those was him. However, given the apparent laughter accompanying his answer, I can’t tell if the witty star is lying (as he’s known to do now and then).

What the Odyssey star hasn’t been lying about, though, is the major amount of work that goes into making this kind of superhero flick. Months ago, he said that he’d been told he’d have 11 straight weeks of night shoots, which sound so tiring. Of course, when an actor is playing a vigilante who operates during late hours, such shoots are par for the course.

During his recent interview, Robert Pattinson also confirmed that he would remain in London “till the end of the year” to film this Batman flick. So he may still have quite a few fight scenes to shoot before principal photography comes to an end. Regardless, I’m glad that Pattinson has an upbeat take on the work and is excited about the “big swings” the film is set to take.

The Batman: Part II opens in theaters on February 18, 2028. While fans wait, they can grab an HBO Max subscription to stream the first movie as well as the spinoff series, The Penguin.

Robert Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne survived a lot during The Batman. He was shot, nearly blown up and electrocuted while trying to save Gotham from flooding. Apparently, Matt Reeves looked at all that punishment and decided Bruce still had a few hit points left, because new footage from the set of the upcoming The Batman: Part II appears to show Pattinson’s Bruce in very rough shape. That’s right, we have some behind-the-scenes footage, and it seems to spell disaster for Master Bruce.

Why The Footage Spells Bad News For Bruce

In a video shared by Cinema Solace on X, Andy Serkis’ Alfred is seen kneeling beside an apparently unconscious Bruce Wayne, trying to revive him. Toward the end of the clip, Pattinson sits up, and the white adhesive pads from a heart monitor are visible on his chest. We have no context for what put him on the ground, but Alfred performing CPR on Batman’s alter ego is a pretty strong sign that somebody’s day has gone very badly.

The footage was captured during production on Reeves’ long-awaited sequel and shows Bruce out of costume while Alfred works over him. A woman stands nearby as crew members surround the scene. The biggest question is what happened before the cameras started rolling.

Set videos rarely provide enough context to determine exactly what we are watching. But it does raise questions because Bruce appears to be injured as Bruce Wayne rather than Batman. Reeves’ first film spent plenty of time showing how reckless Pattinson’s Dark Knight could be once he put on the suit. This could suggest his civilian identity is getting dragged deeper into the danger this time.

Or Bruce could have slipped on some ice. I have no idea. What we do know is that Pattinson and Serkis are back alongside Jeffrey Wright and Colin Farrell, with several newcomers joining the sequel. But what are fans saying about the bts look?

Fans Have Jokes, But One Theory Has Me Thinking

As expected, Batman fans saw a few seconds of out-of-context set footage and immediately started trying to solve the entire movie. The Court of Owls came up repeatedly, while plenty of others were simply enjoying the steady drip of leaks. Whatever big swings are taking place on the set of the upcoming DC flick, here are some of the best (funniest?) responses:

• @MuhammadMu86979: “Court of owls fasho lesgo”
• @MioTaken: “This has to be Court of Owls”
• @MovieMedia: “Jokes on us, Bruce dies in this one”
• @de_fluffy_panda: “It’s called method acting 🤣”
• @DYounglings: “The context was that he was trying to pursue Surfing Joker but took water in his lungs”
• @DeAllas9: “Batman getting his ass shipped this week 😭😭😭”

But @VeryBullishGuy noticed the detail that suddenly makes this footage a lot more interesting. The fan wrote:

The fan goes on to theorize that Bruce may have been restrained so he could not swim, possibly by corrupt members of Gotham law enforcement or someone with access to police equipment. Considering how much of The Batman revolved around institutional corruption, that is a much more interesting possibility than Bruce simply losing another fight.

There is another piece of that theory I really like: this is happening to Bruce Wayne, not Batman. If somebody deliberately cuffed Bruce, dumped him near the water and left Alfred trying to restart his heart, then his civilian identity may be in considerably more danger this time around. And if whoever did this knows Bruce Wayne and Batman are the same person, Reeves could be setting up a nightmare far bigger than another bruising encounter with a Gotham criminal.

Obviously, a blurry set video cannot confirm any of this. We could be looking at a rehearsal, a stunt setup or a scene that plays very differently once we have the full context. Still, those cuffs are hard to ignore. Yeah, I’m looking at the cuffs now.

Bruce survived the Riddler, but fans are going to have to wait a while to find out what exactly is happening here. The Batman: Part II will skip both the 2026 and 2027 movie calendars before finally arriving in theaters in 2028. Until then, you can revisit Pattinson’s first trip through Gotham with an HBO Max subscription.

There are plenty of “what ifs” when it comes to the superhero genre, and several of those pertain to the DC Extended Universe, which was greatly shepherded by Zack Snyder. Over the years, Snyder and some of his collaborators have discussed the plans he was dreaming up for the DCEU, and a common claim is that Jeffrey Dean Morgan would’ve played Flashpoint Batman. Morgan himself has touched on that here and there, but just how serious was Snyder about all that? Well, the actor has provided some clarity on that front.

Morgan played Thomas Wayne – the father of Bruce Wayne – in Snyder’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, where the character was killed alongside his wife, Martha. Those who’ve read the comic likely know that the “Flashpoint” story arc of the comics features a universe in which young Bruce Wayne dies, and Thomas and Martha become that world’s versions of the Dark Knight and Joker, respectively. As of this writing, that story has yet to be depicted on the big screen, unfortunately.

During a recent appearance on the Happy Sad Confused Podcast (part of which was shared to Instagram), Morgan was quizzed in regard to just how serious Snyder was about having him don the cape and cowl. The Walking Dead icon confirmed that the prospect of him playing that version of the Caped Crusader actually came up quite early:

Zack Snyder was seemingly quite serious about having Morgan (who also worked with him on Watchmen) play the role, and it’s interesting that he used that as an enticing factor when courting the actor for the BvS part. That apparently wasn’t the only time that the “Flashpoint” variation of Batman came up between Morgan and Snyder, as the former recalled:

Of course, all hope of Jeffrey Dean Morgan playing Batman was seemingly extinguished when Snyder’s ties with the DCEU were severed. The character also wasn’t included in 2023's The Flash, as director Andy Muschietti explained that he wasn’t aiming to completely adapt “Flashpoint” with his film. Alas, it now feels like Morgan will never play Gotham’s defender (barring any kind of multiversal surprise in James Gunn’s DCU).

It’s still fun to think about what that would’ve looked like, though. I obviously can’t speak to exactly what Snyder may or may not have been planning, but I think Morgan would make a solid Batman. He certainly has the screen presence as well as a firm level of physicality that he could bring to the part. At this point, it may just be reasonable to let this dream casting remain in the darkest corners of the Batcave. Still, I’d love to see Morgan land a DCU role of some kind.

Check out Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice by streaming it with an HBO Max subscription. That membership also grants access to a lot more DC content.

Sebastian Stan has been starring in high-profile movies for well over a decade now, and that’s in great part due to his work within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Because of that, the Oscar nominee has been trained in the art of not spoiling significant details. However, the fan-favorite actor just made a major faux pas in regarding his involvement in The Batman: Part II. Stan just flat-out revealed his role in Matt Reeves’ highly anticipated sequel and, ironically, he did so while discussing his commitment to not leaking secrets.

After Stan’s casting in Batman was reported earlier this year, the rumor mill began to churn, and it’s been moving steadily since then. The most common assumption has been that the A Different Man star is playing a villain in the superhero flick. As for who that baddie is, insiders have offered up different claims and, all the while, Stan’s been fancast as different antagonists. Well, many of those theories can now be put to rest, as Stan spilled the beans after being asked about his work on the also much-anticipated Avengers: Doomsday:

I don’t know what strikes me more: the irony of the context in which Stan confirms his character or the casual way he dropped the news. What I’d love to have seen were the looks on the faces of Stan’s rep(s) when he shared that major detail with le journal du dimanche. To be clear, I’m also not upset to receive confirmation that the skilled actor is playing Harvey Dent (who becomes the villainous Two-Face in the comics). What I’m glad about, if anything, is that we can finally put the prologued rumors and discourse to rest.

Stan previously teased his Batman: Part II character a few months ago, as he said he was portraying “many roles in this one.” One one hand, that hint could’ve been taken as Stan referring to the multiple identities possessed by Dent. On the other hand, others weren’t so convinced Stan was playing Dent and hoped he might portray Tommy Elliot a.k.a. Hush. Another villain rumor also suggested Stan might play serial killer Victor Zsasz. The scrutiny surrounding the Avengers actor’s role became so intense that just earlier this month, many were pouring over his hairstyle for clues.

Harvey Dent does feel like a great role for Stan, though, as he’s adept at playing characters who can exude charm and wrestle with inner demons in their personal time. That would definitely sum up Bucky Barnes, who Stan has played in the MCU since 2011. However, I’d expect Dent to be much more twisted than the dry-witted Bucky.

Although we can now mark one Batman casting mystery as being solved, there are still plenty of others that remain uncertain. Scarlett Johansson’s role, in particular, is still being speculated upon to a major extent. Of course, all will be revealed in time, but I’d be surprised if Johansson or any other franchise newcomers choose to reveal their characters like Stan has.

The Batman: Part II opens in theaters on February 18, 2028. In the meantime, grab an HBO Max subscription and stream the original 2022 movie along with The Penguin.

When Kyle Chandler was revealed to be co-leading the upcoming DCU series Lanterns, I was truly shocked, given how relatively few comic book-esque spectacle projects he's aligned himself with in the past. (King Kong and the Godzilla movies are clear exceptions.) But that only made me more excited, since the actor brings down-to-earth gravitas and authority with each and every role. And true to form, he's been quicker to focus on the show's character study in interviews than to talk about magical green constructs and meeting space aliens.

So it's perhaps not an astounding revelation to learn that the Friday Night Lights actor did not spend his childhood pretending to be any Jack Kirby creations or other more fantastical characters. When asked by Jimmy Kimmel Live! guest host Anthony Anderson what superhero he would have wanted to grow up to be, Chandler first let out an amusing "Good God!" as his first reaction before shedding some (dark knight) light on his earlier years. In his words (via YouTube):

So of all the superheroes and other powered-up characters that Kyle Chandler's imagination could have latched onto, he picks two DC characters that very notably do NOT have superpowers, and are instead just natural human dudes that are vastly skilled at literally everything they do. Of course that's who he picked. Even in a world of childhood fantasy, the actor couldn't quite cross the threshold, and I'm just too amused by it.

Because you just know Chandler's interest in being Batman and Sgt. Rock had to have been all about doing genuinely heroic things and saving people from harm. And not like...being a brooding billionaire with a cave-attached mansion and limitless gadgets. Or being whatever the most petty version of Sgt. Rock would be.

That does make me wonder whether or not James Gunn, Peter Safran and/or other DC and WB execs talked to the Buffalo native about possibly portraying Sgt. Rock for the big screen, in regards to Luca Guadagnino's previously greenlit feature that Colin Farrell was set to star in (following Daniel Craig dropping out). That project seems to have gone nowhere since Farrell's name entered the conversation, so it's unclear if it's still happening. But how cool would it be if Chandler got to take on that role as well?

Also, pretty interesting that Chandler talked about the easy costuming being part of why he pretended to be Batman as a kid, considering he recently took potshots at the Caped Crusader after claiming Green Lantern's costume is the coolest one he's ever seen. At which point he said, "Batman's got nothing on on. He isn't here, is he?" This guy is the driest form of the Joker imaginable.

For what it's worth, co-star Aaron Pierre has said John Stewart is the only DC hero he’d want to play. That isn't necessarily true to what he wanted to be as a kid, though. The ring will let us know if he was lying or not.

HBO unveiled the first five minutes from Lanterns' series premiere, giving audiences a quick look at the tense kinship between Hal Jordan and John Stewart. Check it out!

Lanterns will construct its first episode on HBO and streaming via HBO Max subscription on Sunday, August 16, at 9:00 p.m. ET.

Kyle Chandler has played a small-town football coach, a federal agent and the guy desperately trying to keep Godzilla-related disasters under control. Now he gets to add Green Lantern and the newest addition to DC's upcoming project slate to his résumé, and apparently slipping on Hal Jordan’s superhero suit has given the normally low-key actor a dangerous amount of confidence, enough confidence, in fact, to start talking trash about Batman.

While speaking with Variety at San Diego Comic-Con about HBO’s upcoming Lanterns, Chandler was asked what it was like finally wearing Hal Jordan’s superhero suit. The Friday Night Lights star clearly loved it. He loved it enough, in fact, to declare victory over Batman before nervously checking whether the Dark Knight was standing nearby. He joked:

First of all, I respect the confidence. I mean, Batman has spent the better part of a century being one of DC’s best-dressed superheroes. The Batsuit has been rubber, armor, tactical gear and whatever 'nipple-clad atrocity ' George Clooney was wearing in Batman & Robin. There are entire corners of the internet devoted to ranking those costumes.

Chandler gets one Green Lantern suit and immediately tells Bruce Wayne to take a seat. Honestly, I never knew he was so funny. Check out the clip for yourself below:

To be fair to the Super 8 actor, I think the Lanterns costume does look pretty great from what we have seen so far. More importantly, it is an actual suit. That distinction probably matters to Green Lantern fans who still have memories of Ryan Reynolds wearing a fully CGI costume in the 2011 movie.

Chandler’s Hal Jordan will be one of the central characters in the new DCU series alongside Aaron Pierre’s John Stewart. According to DC, Hal has been training John for about two months when the series begins, and their relationship already looks a little prickly. Hal also seems aware that his younger partner could eventually replace him.

Lanterns is primarily an Earth-based mystery, with Hal and John investigating a case while dealing with a much larger extraterrestrial threat. The trailers have also shown the Green Lantern rings doing what they do best, with John creating a bird construct and Hal using his to make a bottle opener. Because apparently intergalactic peacekeeping occasionally requires opening a beer.

The series will also bring back Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner following his appearance in Superman, while Ulrich Thomsen plays Sinestro. Kelly Macdonald, Poorna Jagannathan, Jason Ritter and Laura Linney are among the other members of the cast.

The pressure is definitely on Lanterns to deliver for the still-developing DCU, especially after Supergirl struggled at the box office. The shared universe is still young, and every new project is doing a little bit of heavy lifting when it comes to convincing audiences that James Gunn and Peter Safran’s larger plan is worth sticking around for.

I loved both Creature Commandos and Peacemaker Season 2, so I’m excited to see the DCU expand on the small screen again. Aaron Pierre already feels like a great fit for John Stewart, and Chandler brings the kind of weathered, slightly cranky energy that makes sense for an older Hal Jordan. If the show can make that pairing work while finally giving Green Lantern fans a live-action project they can brag about, Lanterns could be a pretty important win for DC.

If Chandler’s costume is indeed cooler than Batman’s, he now has the chance to prove it in front of millions of DC fans. No pressure! Lanterns premieres on August 16 and will be available to stream with an HBO Max subscription, which means we are just days away from seeing Hal Jordan and John Stewart in action.

Of all the upcoming DC movies that are in development, the ever-delayed The Batman: Part II is always seemingly the one furthest away from release, despite its production having already started back in May. And as we all know, the more time between now and a movie’s release, the more time for rumors to build up and potentially turn into leaks. We’re still very much in the speculation phase when it comes to Sebastian Stan’s new villain, and his hairstyle has become a sticking point for the argument that he’s portraying Harvey Dent.

The ongoing idea is that Stan is playing the lawyer who becomes Two-Face, and that Scarlett Johansson is playing his idealistic wife Gilda, though it’s an assumption I’ve been suspicious about for a while now, despite Stan’s own description of the role seemingly speaking to his character’s duality. I’m more inclined to side with the alt-rumor claiming he’s actually portraying the sadistic Gotham City killer Victor Zsasz, partially because the actor bulked up ahead of filming, and partially from other factors such as…HIS HAIR. Or wait, the LACK THEREOF!

Enter this Instagram photo, as initially shared to the artist Romana Londi’s Instagram Stories, which features Stan at dinner with his Fjord co-star Renate Reinsve. In the shot, Stan is rocking a pretty clean-shaven head. Now, for what it’s worth, his character Mihai has a bald head in the legal thriller, which will join other 2026 movie releases when it hits theaters on October 9.

However, Fjord filmed during the first half of 2025, and at some point in the months that came after, he filmed for Avengers: Doomsday as Bucky Barnes. But I doubt he had enough time to grow his hair out long enough to match what we saw in the Doomsday trailer, so that was likely a wig, and he presumably kept his own hair cut short.

For those unaware, the haircut is pivotal to the Batman villain argument because Victor Zsasz is largely known to be a bald and hairless guy who keeps track of his body count through carving notches onto his skin. Meanwhile, Harvey Dent is almost always depicted with a neatly trimmed head of hair. Never very long, but also. never so short as to see only skin up top.

It's not the most foolproof argument, I can't lie. Because as one of the comments points out underneath the presumably recent pic of Sebastian Stan, he might also be wearing a wig in whatever role he plays in The Batman: Part II. And that might actually make it easier to handle all the makeup effects for the acid-burned Two-Face look (or whatever the case will be in the movie) without having to deal with real hair. Would it be cool if he just lived his life with half a head of hair the way Will Forte did for The Last Man on Earth? Well duh, but it's not something we can actually expect to happen.

What do you think, readers? Is the hairdo enough to convince you that Stan is playing Victor Zsasz, or will it take more than that? Luckily, so to speak, there's more than enough time to debate about it, as The Batman: Part II won't hit theaters until February 18. 2028.

It's no secret that comic book movies are everywhere, and a new DC shared universe was recently introduced thanks to co-CEO James Gunn. And while most upcoming DC movies will be set there, Matt Reeves' The Batman franchise is in its own world. The Batman: Part II is currently in production, and Robert Pattinson's partner Suki Waterhouse recently revealed the funny name their child calls him as a result of being under the cape and cowl.

The Batman: Part II was recently delayed until 2028, to the disappointment of fans who spent years watching the DC movies in order. Waterhouse recently appeared on the And The Writer Is... podcast, where she revealed the funny name their daughter has been calling Pattinson while he films said movie. In her words:

Honestly, can you blame her? Pattinson and Waterhouse's daughter is 2 years old, so she's talking and presumably becoming more of a personality. And since she sees her famous dad on FaceTime in full Batman regalia, she's dubbed him Daddy Batman. One can only imagine how the celebrity couple reacted the first time that turn of phrase came out of the little one's mouth.

Given how ripped Robert Pattinson got to play Bruce Wayne, I assume that he's been dubbed "Daddy Batman" by fans in certain corners of the internet. But it's far more endearing coming from the actor's young daughter, who has been connecting with him on FaceTime in the midst of filming the DC sequel.

In the same podcast appearance, Suki Waterhouse also shared the unique challenges that come with keeping her daughter connected to Pattinson while he's filming as Batman. In her words:

Being an actor is a strange job, one with unique challenges that most of us wouldn't understand. On top of the long and grueling shoot schedule that comes with a project like The Batman: Part II, Robert Pattinson has also had to FaceTime with his young daughter while covered in fake blood and dark makeup. But it sounds like he and Waterhouse have a good sense of humor about it all.

Despite how many times The Batman's sequel has been delayed, fans are still invested in the forthcoming blockbuster. This might be partly thanks to the Emmy-winning TV spinoff The Penguin (streaming with an HBO Max subscription), which helped to buoy interest in Matt Reeves' Gotham City. Luckily, the cameras are finally up on the second film.

The Batman: Part II is currently expected to arrive in theaters on February 18th, 2028. Since it's not on the 2026 movie release list or even the next year's, fans are going to have to continue practicing patience while waiting for "Batman Daddy" to return to the big screen.

There’s been a whole lot of chatter about Alan Ritchson and his potential to play Batman in the DCU, and he’s actively been a part of that conversation. However, now he’s put it to rest (for now). That’s because, at San Diego Comic-Con, he fully addressed the rumors, noting that while Bruce Wayne is probably out of the equation for now, his conversations with DC are by no means over.

This comes just days after Ritchson made suspicious comments about Batman and DC, saying that “the future is bright, and the horizons are broad.” However, during Reacher’s panel at Comic-Con, he was a lot clearer about the Caped Crusader specifically, saying:

Again, there’s been a ton of chatter about Ritchson and Batman, specifically. So, this statement from the actor is huge, because it essentially puts those rumors to rest, while also making it clear that a new kind of speculation can begin. To hammer that point home even further, he said:

Well, that answer sounds definitive, so it seems Bat-fans can finally lay down their speculation caps. Check out Ritchson's address during the panel:

This all came after Ritchson said he was booked until 2028, and the moderator made a comment about Batman. The Reacher star cleared the air once and (seemingly) for all. He’s not playing him. However, he is also still very much in conversation with DC.

He’s made it apparent that he and DC’s boss James Gunn have talked, and he’s excited to potentially work with him. They just have to find the right character first. Well, it seems like they have someone in mind…it’s just not the one we all thought it could be.

That’s exciting in its own right, though, because a door full of possibilities just opened. Like, maybe he could play Orion or Hawkman or even Captain Atom. So, while it seems like we won’t see Ritchson in a DC project for a while, and we very much will not see him as Batman, it feels like someday he will step into a superhero (or maybe villain) costume.

If you’d like to see Alan Ritchson actually in action while we wait for updates on the superhero front, you can watch him as an action hero in Reacher. That’s the show he was at Comic-Con for, and Season 4 is set to premiere on the 2026 TV schedule on August 12 for those with a Prime Video subscription. It’s also already in production on Season 5 (proving just how busy Ritchson is), so we’ll likely see more of him as Jack Reacher before we see a DC project from him.

However, if there’s anything you should take away from this story, it’s that Alan Ritchson’s future with DC is very much bright, and they have someone in mind for him to play (it’s just not Batman).

Alan Ritchson has openly stated he'd like to play Batman, and if his towering frame in Reacher is a resume to play the Caped Crusader, I'd say he's perfect for the job. It seems like James Gunn might agree, especially after a cagey response from the actor when he was asked whether he'd play the DC hero.

Ritchson was a guest on Happy Sad Confused with Josh Horowitz, in which the host brought up that Gunn is a big fan of the action star. Ritchson acknowledged the question and followed up with this:

Ok, then. For some reason, Alan Ritchson and James Gunn are speaking a lot. That feels like a big deal, especially since he's busy making Superman: Man of Tomorrow and overseeing other DC projects. Why exactly would he be making a good deal of time for Ritchson unless he was tied to that in some way?

It's a question Horowitz was understandably also curious about. He wanted to know if this was a confirmation that Ritchson is in conversations to play the DCU Batman, who is separate from Robert Pattinson's Batman. Or, he could be playing an entirely different character in the DC universe. All the actor could say was this:

If Alan Ritchson thought that was going to end the questions, he was wrong. Of course, people want any details about what he might be doing in the DCU, if anything.

Readers know by now that NDAs signed by actors and actresses associated with any upcoming superhero movie are pretty iron-clad. So there was no way this line of questioning was ever going to end with Ritchson detailing what these conversations were about and who he would be playing. What he did say, however, was this:

I think that's a smart response. The DCU, after all, is coming off a disappointing showing for Supergirl, but Superman was well-received. I think there's an understandable amount of caution being taken by Ritchson, and wanting to ensure he's not rushing too quickly into something that doesn't feel right.

Based on this final bit, however, it sounds like whatever is being discussed, the Reacher star feels good about it. Here's how he characterized the situation, and I would note the adjective he used for the future:

Ok, so, Alan Ritchson as Batman is confirmed? Of course, Josh Horowitz had to give one more try to get the actor to fess up. This final attempt sent me as, Ritchson continued to tease the host and audience with his responses:

• Josh: Do you have a character in mind that you're not going to tell me today?
• Alan: Yes.
• Josh: And it's not Batman?
• Alan: Look, the future is bright, and the horizons are broad, and anything is possible for any of us. You know?

I guess, in light of the recent news that The Batman: Part II was delayed yet again, this is something positive to look forward to. I do worry about how Warner Bros. Discovery may feel about having two cinematic Batmans operating in movies at the same time, as the company heads historically frowned on that and prevented certain characters from being used in The CW's Arrowverse when they were a part of the DCEU. I would love to see Ritchson as Batman, but not sure I want to see less of Pattinson's Batman as a trade-off.

Of course, we don't actually know what Ritchson could do in the DCU, and won't until he and James Gunn are ready to announce it. Here's hoping we get some news eventually, and this isn't a whole lot of teases and excitement over nothing.

Matt Damon is a bonafide A-lister at this point, with his best movies spanning multiple genres. While this new release The Odyssey is crushing at the box office, new information is also coming out about some roles that got away. That includes two different live-action Batman movies where he could have played The Boy Wonder himself, Robin. And my mind was pretty blown from his recollection.

While Damon is an accomplished movie star, there was a time when he was still auditioning for major roles. During a clip from the Happy Sad Confused podcast, he recalled auditioning for the role of Robin in Tim Burton's Batman movies... even though that role was ultimately dropped from those titles. As he shared:

So we could have had Damon play Robin not once, but twice during the original Batman franchise (which is streaming with a HBO Max subscription). While Tim Burton's two movies ultimately didn't include Dick Grayson, eventually the character would debut in Joel Schumacher's Batman Forever, before returning for the infamously campy Batman & Robin. Although the role would go to Chris O'Donnell for both of those blockbusters.

Later in the same interview, Matt Damon recalled trying out for Batman & Robin, which famously starred George Clooney. While O'Donnell had already played the role, the Martian actor explained why he was still able to audition for the beloved sidekick, saying:

Honestly, can you blame him? The entertainment industry is a tough one, and Matt Damon would have been happy to take a smaller payday in order to get the role in Batman & Robin. But in the end Chris O'Donnell would hang on to the job, which would end up being one of his most iconic roles in a long career spanning TV and film.

Given how incredible Matt Damon is as a performer, I have to wonder what he might have brought to the table as Robin opposite George Clooney's Batman. To this day we still haven't seen him in a comic book role, despite the genre's ongoing popularity... apart from his cameo in Thor: Ragnarok.

Matt Damon's The Odyssey is in theaters now as part of the 2026 movie release list. As for the Batman movies, they're all streaming over on HBO Max, including Chris O'Donnell's tenure as Robin.

If there’s one superhero movie that’s been highly anticipated by fans, it’s The Batman: Part II. Matt Reeves’ long-gestating sequel to his acclaimed 2022 superhero movie was announced that same year and, since then, there have been multiple delays. The production took a major step forward this year when production kicked off in the UK in June, with set photos even surfacing in May beforehand. Now, however, the film has been delayed again and, at this point, I have a concern regarding the DCU.

The Batman: Part II Gets Delayed Again

Warner Bros. has reportedly made some changes to its release slate and, as a result, The Batman: Part II has been impacted. The Robert Pattinson-led movie was most recently set to open in theaters on October 1, 2027 but, now, it won’t hit cinemas until February 18, 2028, according to Deadline. The Bat flick’s October slot is now being occupied by J.J. Abrams’ The Great Beyond, which stars Glen Powell and Jenna Ortega. As of this writing, a precise reason for the changes has yet to be provided.

Initially, Batman: Part II was set to be released on October 3, 2025 though, due to the Hollywood strikes, it was shifted to October 2, 2026. Then came the third delay, and that’s what put the movie within the October 1, 2027 slot. Amid this latest change, Reeves did treat fans to a BTS treat in the form of a camera test, similar to the clip that revealed Pattinson’s Batsuit back in 2020. Check out the new b-roll via Reeves’ Instagram post:

The clip does, at the very least, give audiences a tiny taste of Batman’s latest outing, which will take place during the winter time. However, I’m just still considering the greater ramifications that this release date change could have.

Why I Have A DCU-Centric Concern After This Delay

Aside from the evidently annoying fact that there’s been another delay, there’s also a greater issue to consider here. It’s well known that James Gunn’s DCU continuity is set to introduce its own Dark Knight at some point, and Gunn has been adamant about putting a lot of space between releases featuring that Bat and Pattinson’s. So, with this recent delay to Reeves’ movie, it’s hard not to consider that it could potentially push back the debut of the newest Caped Crusader.

It was announced in 2023 that the DCU’s Batman and Robin would star in The Brave and the Bold, which would be directed by The Flash’s Andy Muschietti. Updates on the movie have been few and far between in the years since it was announced. James Gunn has spoken more generally about not wanting to rush out this new Batman, though, as he wants to take his time with the Bat. And, as far as an actor goes, no one’s been revealed, but Tom Brittney recently played coy when asked about possibly playing the role.

Overall, all of this is speculation on my part, and it’s possible that fans could still see the DCU’s Bruce Wayne suit up sooner rather than later. Yet I’m not exactly going to hold my breath for that. For now, I’m just going to try to reckon with the fact that fans like myself are going to have to wait even longer for the next chapter in Matt Reeves’ Gotham City-based saga. I’m optimistic that it’ll be great, but that notion makes the idea of waiting all the more difficult.

While you wait for The Batman: Part II to arrive, grab an HBO Max subscription to stream the original as well as The Penguin, a spinoff limited series.

For a very short while there, it seemed like everyone was on the same page in regards to The Batman: Part II’s villain castings, with Sebastian Stan, Scarlett Johansson and Charles Dance joining the sequel to reportedly play various members of Gotham City’s Dent family. But then direct Matt Reeves went and confirmed the sequel’s cast members without revealing any new characters, which strengthened the emerging speculation that the trio are playing completely different villains.

Now, weeks into filming the new movie, alleged details about Stan, Johansson and Dance’s characters have emerged, and Harvey Dent’s Two-Face is nowhere to be seen, much less his wife and father. Instead, the actors are each reportedly playing completely different villains that tie into past rumors and speculation.

Rumor: Goodbye To Two-Face, Hello To Poison Ivy?

The latest report stems from the DCULeaks subreddit, (via @DCVers0 on X) where a post was shared that was apparently vetted and approved by mods, with some form of additional proof offered for verification purposes, before being taken down for unknown reasons. But what did it say?

With a clarification from the leaker saying that character names were not spoken aloud in their presence, the message essentially purports that The Batman: Part II will be introducing Poison Ivy, Victor Zsasz, and the Court of Owls. Here’s how each is described:

• Scarlett Johansson is reportedly Poison Ivy: referred to as "the main villain" and "a serial killer with an obsession with plants" who also "uses toxins" in relation to her villainy.
• Sebastian Stan is simply referred to as a "bald serial killer," which does legitimately seem like confirmation that he'll be portraying the sadistic criminal and frequent Arkham resident Victor Zsasz. It's also noted that Batman initially believes Zsasz is the sequel's key troublemaker, but it's actually Ivy.
• Meanwhile, Charles Dance is supposedly playing one of Gotham City's upper crust, who "leads a secret organization made up of the city's most powerful figures" while also being targeted by Johansson's character. While his specific identity is harder to guess, it's less difficult to assume that the org being referred to is Gotham's age-old threat, the Court of Owls.

That set of alleged reveals totally throws any and all Two-Face speculation out the window, since Ivy and Zsasz aren't big players in the comics' "Long Halloween" storyline that reportedly had a big influence on the upcoming 2027 movie. Is it possible the movie will completely twist up expectations on the source material, or are Reeves and co-screenwriter Mattson Tomlin shooting for a completely original storyline?

To be fair, Poison Ivy was a villain whose name was in the mix when Scarlett Johansson's casting was first reported, and it's not exactly a stretch to imagine the actress rocking long red hair. As well, recent sightings of Sebastian Stan in hats have sparked speculation that the actor did indeed shave his head for his Batman role. No word on whether or not Charles Dance has been seen training owls or getting his face fitted for an owl mask or anything.

i was certainly looking forward to seeing the two MCU vets portraying Harvey and Gilda Dent for Matt Reeves, but I won't be upset in the slightest to have to swap out the Dents for Pamela Isley and Victor Zsasz. Could just be that green gas that started billowing out of my air conditioner vent, though.

The Batman: Part II is set to hit theaters on October 1, 2027.

Superhero fans have been waiting a while for Batman: Caped Crusader Season 2 and, now, it’s finally set to premiere amid the 2026 TV schedule. The first trailer for the new season teases the introductions of several classic villains but, of course, the most iconic among them is the Joker. The Dark Knight’s archenemy briefly appears at the tail end of Season 1, and he’s now expected to make his full debut this time around. Now, I have all kinds of feelings after an EP details the creative team’s take on the character.

Through the years, there have been plenty of portrayals of the Joker across TV and cinema, with each interpretation bringing something new to the table. It sounds like the Caped Crusader team is also striving to do something “different” when it comes to their version of the Clown Prince of Crime. Ironically, though, when executive producer James Tucker spoke to SFX Magazine on CinemaBlend about this fresh take on Mr. J., he actually explained how it harkened back to the character’s roots:

In the realm of animation, shows like Batman: The Brave and the Bold and The Batman, have depicted a somewhat more gleeful takes on Joker, who enjoy inflicting chaos on Gotham City. Mark Hamill’s iconic version of the baddie has more layers but, for the most part, he can also be campy and quippy (when he’s not being downright scary). So far, Caped Crusader’s version of the antagonist isn’t so much interested in fooling someone with a bang flag gun than he is talking about the complexities of the human condition, and I love that.

The Season 2 trailer features hints of dialogue from Joker, who calls Batman to tell him he’s “come to awaken [him] and to show [him] something.” When the Bat asks what the mysterious man wants to show, the purple-clad baddie says, “what you are.” Check out the trailer for yourself below:

Clearly, this is a man who’s eager to not simply toy with the World’s Greatest Detective but to understand what makes him tick. The creative team is still keeping details on the character mostly under wraps (including the identity of the person voicing him). Still, Tucker shared more about making a unique version of this larger-than-life bad guy:

Considering how many versions of the Gotham City rogue have been created over the years, I’m excited to see that the Caped Crusader team is going for something so new. What makes me nervous, though, is how the people of the aforementioned town are going to suffer due to his machinations. During his brief scene in the Season 1 finale’s epilogue, the villain proved how sadistic he could be by killing several victims as part of his Joker toxin experiments.

Joker, of course, will be accompanied by a number of other notable villains like The Riddler, the Mad Hatter, Poison Ivy, Scarecrow and the returning Harley Quinn. But, of course, the clown’s presence is sure to loom large over the narrative and, with any luck, fans will be in for some serious action and drama. As Mr. J says in the trailer, “shall we begin?”

All episodes of Batman: Caped Crusader Season 2 will drop on July 31 and will be available to Prime Video subscription holders. In the meantime, prepare for the vigilante’s new adventures by checking out the first season on Prime now. Fans can also read up on other upcoming DC shows.

The comic book genre continues to be wildly popular, and things on the DC side of things are changing thanks to plans formulated by co-CEO James Gunn. We're still early into the run of the newly formed DCU (whose first slate of projects is titled Gods and Monsters), and there are countless questions about which actors might play beloved heroes. Actor Tom Brittney is rumored to be playing Bruce Wayne/ Batman, although he recently denied these reports. Still, he looked kinda guilty to me.

Fans are curious about the upcoming DC movies, especially since so little is known about casting. While James Gunn claimed he wasn't rushing to bring Batman to the shared universe, that hasn't stopped casting rumors from swirling. Brittney recently appeared on FOX5’s Good Day New York (via Twitter) to promote the new series The Westies, where he was asked about the Batman chatter. Check out his response below:

Is it just me, or does the Greyhound actor look like he's hiding something? While it would have been easy enough to deny that he's in talks for Batman, instead he played dumb, even jokingly asking "Who?" when asked about the rumors that he's playing the Caped Crusader. I mean, who doesn't know that specific hero? After all, he's one of the most popular DC characters of all time. It's reminding me of how Andrew Garfield lied for a year about his Spider-Man: No Way Home role.

Of course, this isn't a confirmation that Tom Brittney is actually playing Gotham's Protector in the DCU (which is streaming with an HBO Max subscription). But I'm sure his mischievous smile is going to keep the discourse going. As far as his actual words, the actor responded by saying:

If Brittney doesn't end up playing Bruce Wayne, it sounds like he's honored to even be rumored for that role. Batman is a dream role for many, despite the pressure and how many actors have already famously played the role. Still, the newly formed DCU is going to need a new version of the Caped Crusader eventually.

Of course, there is another version of the character happening right now. Namely Robert Pattinson, who starred in The Batman and will reprise his role in Matt Reeves' upcoming follow-up Part II. It's largely believed that the DCU won't move forward with a new version of the beloved character until that long-awaited sequel finally arrives in theaters. So the ongoing discourse about casting rumors will likely continue for the foreseeable future. We'll just have to wait and see if Tom Brittney ends up being the lucky actor to wear the cape and cowl.

The next DC movie hitting theaters is Clayface on October 23rd as part of the 2026 movie release list. As for The Batman: Part II, that's not expected to arrive until October 1st, 2027. As such, we might have to wait even longer before DCU Batman casting is announced.

While I usually hate feeling as if time is going by too quickly, I can take comfort in knowing it’s all leading to the upcoming DC movie The Batman: Part II, so no time has technically been wasted. (I live in denial a bunch.) Production on the 2027 theatrical release kicked off in June, but many cast and character questions remain unanswered. Is Sebastian Stan really playing Harvey Dent and Two-Face? Is Scarlett Johansson a key piece of the Long Halloween adaptation game? Will we see The Joker?

Unsurprisingly, director Matt Reeves kept mum about new and established roles when confirming the film’s actors, and it was a noteworthy exclusion when Barry Keoghan’s name wasn’t listed in the lineup. Though not a “star” of the first film, the Irish actor made a quick and lasting impact from his minimal time on-screen as “Unseen Arkham Prisoner,” and talks about his return were among the first rumors sparked by the impending sequel. So what’s the deal?

A Warner Bros. Event May Have Spilled The Joker Beans

WB execs were on hand in France around July 4 weekend for Studio Show 2026 to promote the studio's slate of upcoming movies, from Tom Cruise's Digger to Dune: Part 3 to animated projects like Hello Kitty and Margie Claus. Obviously, the topic of DC-sourced adaptations came up, such as Man of Tomorrow and Dynamic Duo, and Clayface. But this detail reported by BoxOfficePro is definitely worth bringing up, since Keoghan is one of the key names mentioned in the French report. Here's a translated iteration:

No mention of James Gordon actor Jeffrey Wright or Penguin portrayer Colin Farrell, but Keoghan is just right there in front, ahead of Alfred's actor Andy Serkis. I of course get throwing ScarJo and Stan in there for extra hype, and maybe it's a case where Keoghan has a huge following in France, and so the outlet wanted to play into that, without this being directly related to billing order.

The Saltburn actor himself has been cagey when addressing a potential return as The Joker, which has only helped to make the return seem more likely. But given just the elements that we know about thus far, it's not entirely clear how The Joker would factor into what will assumedly be Two-Face's origin tale. (It's not like Reeves is going to ape Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight, amirite?) So I can't imagine it'll be a very prominent part, and will possibly just lay additional groundwork for a grander takeover in a third Batman movie. Or not.

Whatever fans might hope to see, note that the actor is as busy as busy can be, in large part because he's portraying musical icon Ringo Starr for Sam Mendes' The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event, which reportedly started filming in March. It'll likely take well over a year for the movie quartet to be filmed, though it's obviously possible that Keoghan worked out scheduling details with Reeves and Mendes that would allow him to film Joker scenes without imminent Ringo sequences to appear in.

For now, the actor’s fans can see him in action in two 2026 movie releases to date: Crime 101 opposite Chris Hemsworth (currently streaming via Amazon Prime subscription) and Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man (currently streaming via Netflix subscription).

Anne Hathaway’s massive year continues this month, with The Odyssey being the latest of her many 2026 movie releases on the way. Notably, the historical drama also marks her third time working with Christopher Nolan. But did you know the circumstances of Hathaway's first audition for Nolan? It revolves around a funny misunderstanding the actress had about what role she was auditioning for in The Dark Knight Rises.

It goes without saying that auditioning for a director like Nolan is no small feat, and Hathaway wanted to ensure she was prepared when they met for his final Batman film. Here’s what the actress recently recalled about how it went:

Now, Anne Hathaway isn’t alone in meeting a filmmaker for a superhero role she didn’t know about. A similar thing happened to the likes of Brie Larson for Captain Marvel and Paul Rudd for Ant-Man. But, in Hathaway’s case, she was under the impression that Nolan was looking for a Harley Quinn, and she dressed accordingly.

As she recalled to Happy Sad Confused, there was an the awkward moment when the filmmaker told her what role she was auditioning for, and the reveal led to her instantly change up her demeanor to adapt to it. In her words:

Hathaway says she thinks her misreading of the role actually “worked in [her] favor,” because Selina Kyle is “a chameleon”. I’d be so curious about Christopher Nolan’s recollection of his first meeting with Anne Hathaway for The Dark Knight Rises but, ultimately, she obviously made a good impression, considering she got the part!

Hathaway's hiring ended up being the first time an actress played the role of Catwoman in a live-action Batman movie since Michelle Pfeiffer’s version in 1992. Then, it wasn't until Zoë Kravitz played Selina Kyle in 2022's The Batman alongside Robert Pattinson’s version of the Caped Crusader that there was another big-screen Catwoman after the Devil Wears Prada star.

Hathaway may have been wrong about Harley Quinn at the time, but she was right about Warner Bros. wanting to bring the comic book character to life in a DC film. It was just four years later when Margot Robbie debuted her Harley Quinn in David Ayer's Suicide Squad.

For the time being, the current schedule of upcoming DC movies doesn’t officially include the return of Catwoman or Harley Quinn. However, I hope it won't be too long before these fan-favorite femme fatales come back somehow. For now, we’re excited to see Anne Hathaway reunite with Nolan to play Odysseus’ wife, Penelope, in The Odyssey, coming to theaters on July 17.

DC Studios just announced three new upcoming TV shows set to hit streaming in the near-ish future, and while the whole lineup sounds interesting, one title immediately made fans lose their minds. Mine included.

The news came out of the World’s Finest Animation: DC Studios and Warner Bros. Animation Showcase at the 2026 Annecy International Animation Film Festival, where DC Studios co-chairman and co-CEO Peter Safran and Warner Bros. Animation president Sam Register helped lay out what is coming next for DC animation. Among the biggest reveals: Joker: Laugh Riot, Absolute Batman and a new untitled Krypto series are all on the way.

DC later shared the trio of logos on Instagram, which, honestly, makes for a pretty great visual summary of the announcement. Check out the post below:

Joker getting a series is not exactly shocking, since the Clown Prince of Crime has remained popular across comics, DC movies, TV and games for decades. Krypto getting an animated show also makes sense, especially with James Gunn’s Superman era putting the super-dog back in the conversation with the first chapter of his new DCEU. The super pooch was a standout in last year's Superman and is slated to appear in the 2026 calendar release, Supergirl. But Absolute Batman? That is the one that made me sit up.

I Am All-In On An Absolute Batman TV Show

For anyone who has not been following the comics, Absolute Batman is part of DC’s fairly new "Absolute" line, which reimagines major heroes with fresh mythology and altered foundations. This is not the traditional Bruce Wayne most casual fans know. It is not simply another version of the billionaire detective with a Batcave, a butler and enough money to turn trauma into a full-time urban warfare brand.

The official description puts it pretty bluntly: “No manor, no money... all Batman.” The animated series will reimagine the Dark Knight as a working-class hero fighting impossible odds, wealth, corruption and some seriously terrifying foes. Scott Snyder, who writes the comic, will serve as executive producer and showrunner, while artist Nick Dragotta is attached as a producer.

That is a major reason this feels like such a big deal. Absolute Batman is not some forgotten elseworlds idea pulled out of a longbox. It is new, hot and already a monster on the comics side. According to the press release, the series has sold more than 6 million copies, Absolute Batman #1 has reached an 11th printing, and all Absolute titles, including Absolute Batman, rank among the top 10 best-selling comics of 2025.

Fans React to DC's Announcement

Fans seemed just as thrown and excited by the announcement as I was. Some of the best reactions included:

• bengalgram: “🔥🔥🔥🙌”
• Batman: “The clown? Really?”
• jef_seg: “have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight?”
• biggyxay123__: “someone’s upset their arch Nemesis is getting a tv show😎”
• supergirl: “That’s my good boy 😎”
• superman: “Found the dog!!”
• blake_koala: “Bro!!! Absolute Batman animated series😭”
• martycipher: “ABSOLUTE BATMAN⁉️⁉️⁉️⁉️⁉️⁉️⁉️⁉️”
• official_supernerd: “I NEED THE ENTIRE ABSOLUTE UNIVERSE IN ANIMATED FORM 🗣️”
• ramen.noodles.22: “Oh these look pretty ni- ABSOLUTE BATMAN????”
• eljoscarlos: “The Absolute Batman series must maintain its gruesome comic nature 👀🦇”
• btartist98: “Wonder Woman deserves an animated series 😭”

That Wonder Woman point is fair. Batman fans have had plenty of animated projects over the years, from classic Bruce Timm series to current shows like Batwheels and Batman: Caped Crusader. A proper Wonder Woman animated series still feels overdue.

Still, the Absolute Batman excitement is hard to ignore. The big question now is how closely the animated series will stick to the comic's tone. A watered-down version would miss a lot of what makes this Bruce feel different in the first place. If DC is going to adapt Absolute Batman, the series needs to lean into the size, grit and street-level rage that helped make the comic stand out.

That is why animation could be such an interesting fit. It can exaggerate this Batman’s size, movement, brutality and Gotham’s atmosphere in ways live action might struggle to make look natural. If DC really leans into the comic’s intensity, this could be the rare Batman page-to-screen adaptation that actually gives longtime fans something new.

The Annecy showcase also touched on other DC animated fare, including Mister Miracle, My Adventures with Green Lantern, Starfire, Creature Commandos and Batman: Caped Crusader. So this was not just a three-title announcement. It was a wider look at how aggressively DC and Warner Bros. Animation are building out that side of the universe.

Joker: Laugh Riot also sounds like a major swing. The adult-targeted anime series follows Joker after Batman’s apparent death, as he sets out to track down whoever robbed him of his greatest obsession, which is exactly the kind of chaotic premise that could either be incredible or completely unhinged in the best way. A Krypto kids’ series sounds charming too, with Superman’s dog teaming up with a group of misfit wannabe criminals and, somehow, accidentally steering them toward doing the right thing. But Absolute Batman is the one I cannot stop thinking about.

There are currently no release dates or networks set for the new series. But once they arrive, fans will likely need an HBO Max subscription to watch them, since they are Warner Bros. properties and that's where new DC animation tends to land.

When it comes to ranking the Batman movies, I think most will agree that The Dark Knight is perched firmly at the top.

However, what about the bottom of the list? Well, I think things get a bit trickier there. Sure, I know exactly what Batman movie people want to place at the bottom (and I’ll get to it in a few), but for my money, the worst live-action Batman movie is 1995’s Batman Forever, and by a wide margin.

And, look, I know I’m pretty much the ONLY person who says this, but I have my reasons. Here are just a few.

Let's Get This One Out The Way First. Yes, I Think Batman Forever Is Worse Than Batman & Robin

When I ranked the Batman movies, I put Batman & Robin at the bottom, but it’s not because I think it’s the worst. No. It’s actually because I’m a man of the people, and I know everybody hates Batman & Robin. But personally, I LOVE it, and I always have (I actually now like Batman v. Superman, which surprises me). Because what people think is its biggest weakness–that it’s way too silly–I think is its biggest strength, since Batman & Robin always has its tongue firmly in its cheek, right down to Clooney’s silly performance.

Which is the thing, really, because Batman Forever doesn’t entirely commit to being camp like its follow-up. Directed by Joel Schumacher after two successfully dark Tim Burton Batman movies, Batman Forever often walks the line between something that wants to be taken seriously and something that’s incredibly goofy, and this mishmash kind of throws it off for me.

I think it also might be because Val Kilmer commits to being an amazing Batman, which actually works AGAINST this movie, which I’ll get into next.

Val Kilmer Is A Great Batman In A Bad Batman Movie

I know some people think Val Kilmer isn’t at his best in this movie when compared to other Batmen, but I think Kilmer does a good job of playing both Bruce Wayne and Batman, which is never an easy task.

As Wayne, he’s charming, and as Batman, he doesn’t brood like Bale’s or Pattinson’s versions, nor is he a tired bruiser like Ben Affleck. Instead, he’s actually more similar to the quieter (but somehow more lethal) Michael Keaton, but slightly modified to fit this movie's more colorful tone. And, I don’t think that should be understated. Val Kilmer is just a tad beneath Keaton for me.

That works against him since the playful tone is dialed up to a million, what with Tommy Lee Jones and Jim Carrey hamming it up, and it just throws the whole thing off since Batman sometimes seems like he’s in a different movie. Oh, and speaking of Jim Carrey…

I Agree With Tommy Lee Jones. I Can't Sanction Jim Carrey's Buffoonery

Jim Carrey–who was my childhood–has a really funny story about a time he went up to Tommy Lee Jones outside of work, and Jones told him that he couldn’t “sanction” his “buffoonery.” And honestly, when it comes to Carrey’s performance as The Riddler, I’m with Jones on this one.

Now, don’t get me wrong. Tommy Lee Jones singing “Trick or treat” at Wayne Manor beside Carrey is ludicrous to the nth degree, but I really do feel like Carrey goes WAY over the top (even more than usual for the ‘90s) in this movie. It really makes me kind of despise his character.

And, I’m talking about despising him just as much as I despise Jared Leto’s Joker in Suicide Squad. That’s how much I loathe Jim Carrey’s manic performance in this movie. Even as a kid, I just found it so annoying.

That Said, It Still Has Its Positives!

Here’s the thing. While I genuinely can’t stand Batman Forever, I do have to give some props to its visual style. The backdrops and designs are colorful in a way that really does look like a comic book at times, so kudos to that.

Oh, and the soundtrack is still bananas. “Kiss From a Rose” by Seal is way too good a song for this middling movie. Method Man’s “The Riddler” is also great, as is U2’s “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me.”

But the rest? Put it straight and directly in the trash.

Zack Snyder has been keeping Ben Affleck’s Batman alive on social media lately, sharing moody throwbacks that remind fans why Batfleck still has such a strong grip on the DC fandom. The filmmaker’s black-and-white shots and DCEU memories are exactly the kind of thing that sends SnyderVerse fans back into the trenches, cape in hand. But Jennifer Garner’s recent throwback to her ex-husband might take the cake when it comes to cool.

Snyder’s Instagram Batman posts are cool in that classic “rain, rage and jawline” sort of way. He has been steadily sharing behind-the-scenes images from his time at the helm of DC movie releases, including the shot below, which he noted was taken with a Leica M-D and 28mm f/1.7 lens. And yes, as you can see, it is in black and white.

To be clear, Snyder knows how to shoot Batman. Whatever people think of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice or Justice League (both available to stream with an HBO Max subscription) his version of the Dark Knight had a very specific presence. Affleck’s Bruce Wayne looked tired, haunted and built like he could bench-press a Gotham City gargoyle.

That is why Snyder’s recent throwbacks have landed with so many fans. His version of Batman was operatic, bruised and massive. The photos bring back the feeling of that era, especially now that the DCU has moved into a new phase with David Corenswet’s Superman and a different Batman future on the horizon. Still, Jennifer Garner’s photo does something Snyder’s never could.

Garner’s Father’s Day post was not about the DCEU. It was not about restoring anything, teasing anything or lighting the Bat-Signal for another round of internet debate. It was a family post shared to her Instagram, honoring dads and the kids who love them. And, as you can see in the final image of the carousel below, it shows Ben Affleck as a dad in a Batsuit making his son happy.

In her caption, Garner reflected on the fathers in her life and the love kids have for great dads. She wrote:

That is already sweet, but then you get to the photo. Affleck is in the Batman suit, mask and all, holding one of his children, who looks absolutely delighted. It may not be a brooding Bat standing in the rain, but it is a Dad enjoying a moment with his kiddo while dressed as one of the most famous superheroes ever. What is cooler than that?

As a father, Garner’s photo takes the cake for me. Snyder’s images sell the legend of Batman. Garner’s photo sells the magic of Batman. There is a difference. The whole point of these superhero roles, at least partly, is that they become real to kids. Adults can argue about canon, tone, box office and cinematic universes until the sun burns out. But to a child standing next to Batman, none of that matters.

Snyder gave fans some unforgettable images of Ben Affleck as Batman. But Garner gave us Batdad, and I’m sorry, that one wins.

The superhero genre continues to be wildly popular, and audiences are invested in upcoming DC movies. The studio's co-CEO James Gunn has been crafting a new shared universe, although Matt Reeves' The Batman franchise (which is streaming with a HBO Max subscription) is set outside of it. The TV spinoff The Penguin got me way more invested in that property, and I've been hoping we'd eventually get a Season 2. Colin Farrell recently addressed that possibility, and what his conditions would be for reprising his role on the small screen.

What we know about The Batman Part II is limited, but cameras are up and it's expected to hit theaters in October of 2027. I've been holding out hope that The Penguin gets another season following its Emmy-winning first season, and during a conversation with People Farrell spoke about the idea of his show returning. In his words:

As much as I want another season of The Penguin, I respect Colin Farrell's perspective. Given what a huge success the first season was, the actor wants to make sure that any future installments feel earned and that the material is just as strong. Expectations are high, so the series needs to be another slam dunk if the cast and crew reunite to tell another story about Oswald Cobblepot and Cristin Milioti's Sofia Falcone.

The Penguin helped to increase my investment in The Batman franchise, so I'm really hoping we'll get another installment of the TV spinoff. But the first season left behind a wildly successful legacy including a whopping nine Emmy wins. Later in the same interview, Colin Farrell spoke more about possibly getting another season after Part II hits theaters. In his words:

He's not wrong. As much as I want to see more of this series, I'd want a second or third season to live up to the first one's high standards. So it'll take the right story to convince not only Colin Farrell but Matt Reeves and company to bring back the TV spinoff. We'll just have to wait and see if/when that happens.

The Penguin is streaming now on HBO Max, and The Batman: Part II will hit theaters on October 1st, 2027. Since it's not part of the 2026 movie release list, fans will have to be patient for news about not only the movie, but its TV spinoff as well.

James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DCU is currently in hype mode for Craig Gillespie’s Supergirl, with the cast enjoying red carpet premieres around the globe. But the studio has also quietly screened its upcoming horror movie Clayface, which will be joining other 2026 movie releases when it hits theaters in October. Early reactions appear to be more positive than negative, but with some seemingly major spoilers also being discussed, including the key casting of a Breaking Bad vet.

Though everything we’ll be talking about below is technically unconfirmed and comes from people who allegedly attended the early Clayface viewing, it’s worth putting a SPOILER WARNING here to ward off those who would be most upset to learn details ahead of time, including one that kinda concerns me as a general horror fan. We’ll dive in deeper below the logo.

Clayface's Cast Apparently Includes An A+ Breaking Bad Vet

According to Feature First, the upcoming DCU movie will feature an appearance from none other than Aaron Paul, arguably best known to fans as Jesse Pinkman. The actor is always aces regardless of the project or role, and he almost always chooses movies and series that appeal to his fan sensibilities, as opposed to merely doing it for the payday. (See: Invincible, It’s Always Sunny, his upcoming role in Fallout Season 3, etc.)

Interestingly, Paul’s involvement in Clayface is more on the minimal side than anything meaty, and it’s claimed he will only show up for a “brief and minor role.” So was this just a chance for Paul to say he’s in the DCU’s first horror movie, or is it perhaps a role that will be fleshed out in a future project?

Considering James Watkins, James Gunn and others have all plainly stated that Clayface doesn’t have overarching ties to other projects and won’t feature a Batman cameo, it’s not the most likely outcome. But I can’t fully believe that an actor with Paul’s Breaking Bad pedigree would only show up for a throwaway part. It doesn't help that the timeline is still somewhat unclear, as far as exactly when it's taking place.

The Major Clayface Detail That Has Me Most Concerned

Again, anything said about Clayface at this point is meant to be taken with the usual grain of salt, and it's specifically worth pointing out here that several posts about the early screening noted that the CGI and some special effects were not finalized. So it's theoretically possible that the finished product releasing in October will feature some updated visuals. But let's just pretend nothing too noteworthy will change between now and then.

One of the alleged screening attendees took to X to share a smattering of information about the movie, including this gut-punch of a claim:

The lack of Batman is hardly an issue, since it's been well-publicized that James Gunn & Co. have yet to cast an actor to be the DCU's Caped Crusader. And I'm not mad at this being a villain-centric movie that doesn't need one of DC's Big Three to be involved.

But Clayface is an R-rated body horror movie, so one of my most basic expectations was for Matt Hagen to suffer through one or more actual full-body horror moments. If they're not going to play up this character's most preeminent trait, then what's the point of basing it on this particular character? Sure, I realize that Mike Flanagan's story and initial script are probably more of a character study than an effects bonanza, and I love his storytelling choices in everything. But a Clayface movie without Clayface-level transformations just seems baffling.

It's like saying, "We're going into production on a King Tut movie, but this version of the Batman villain will be more fixated on Greek mythology." Well not exactly, but on a similar level of bizarreness.

Clayface Has Been Compared To A Quartet Of Other Movies

These may not be the only four movie comparisons that have surfaced from early Clayface chatter, but I think in particular, this grouping shared on X gives fans a pretty good idea of what to expect from its tone and story.

• Joker
• The Substance
• The Incredible Hulk
• Vanilla Sky

The Joker comparison is perhaps the most polarizing, but I assume that's mainly from it being a villain-centric origin story without a hero to anchor it. The Substance is a great comparison point, theoretically, but is maybe less impactful knowing about the lack of transformation scenes.

I like the Marvel namedrop here for Ed Norton's The Incredible Hulk, since it likely implies Tom Rhys Harries' Matt will be on the run from others as he tries to gain control of his changing biology. And I get that the Vanilla Sky ties are likely due to Matt's face being all bandaged up the way Tom Cruise's was after his car crash in that movie, but I do wonder if the unreliable nature of that film is also at play.

I'm calling it now. At the end of the movie, Aaron Paul wakes up in bed next to Bob Newhart and Suzanne Pleshette, and it's revealed Clayface's storyline was just a dream.

Clayface is set to hit theaters on October 23, 2026.

Superhero projects have been dominating the entertainment world for years now, and studios aren't slowing down anytime soon. While DC's co-CEO James Gunn has crafted a new shared universe, Matt Reeves' The Batman franchise is set outside of it (and is streaming with a HBO Max subscription). The sequel is one of the most highly anticipated upcoming DC movies, and filming has begun. Jeffrey Wright will be back as James Gordon, and pulled a very in-character move when posting to social media. Although the photo itself is pretty wild.

What we know about The Batman: Part II has been limited, but production has begun and it's expected to hit theaters in 2027. Director Matt Reeves has shared photos from the set, and Jeffrey Wright followed suit over on his Instagram. But the image is just of his mouth, showing off Gordon's signature mustache. Check it out below:

Honestly, I didn't need to get THAT close to the Westworld actor. But it's thrilling that Jeffrey Wright is on the set of The Batman's long-awaited sequel, complete with James Gordon's mustache. And I can't wait to see what the character is up to in Matt Reeves' sequel, and how his partnership with Robert Pattinson's Dark Knight progresses as they try to protect Gotham City.

I wasn't the only one who had a big reaction to this close up of Jeffrey Wright's mouth. The image is already going viral online, with folks sounding off in the comments. Some responses read:

• Pretty sure that thing could summon a superhero.
• Hope we get to see "Lieutenant Gordon" be promoted to "Commissioner Gordon" this time around 🤞🏻😁
• “American Fiction II: Mustache Boogaloo”
• Is it trim ‘stache o’clock?!
• Lieutenant 🫡

Despite how long the wait has been between The Batman and its sequel, these comments make it sound like folks are still invested in Matt Reeves' burgeoning franchise. I have to assume that anticipation was buoyed by the TV spinoff The Penguin, which was nominated for a whopping 24 Emmy Awards, winning nine.

There are countless questions about what's going down in The Batman: Part II, with fans curious about the movie's villain, as well as the roles being played by Scarlett Johansson and Sebastian Stan. Fans are also hoping to see the return of Barry Keoghan's Joker, who made a brief appearance in the first film.

All will be revealed when The Batman: Part II hits theaters on October 1st, 2027. Since it's not part of the 2026 movie release list, moviegoers are going to have to be patient while waiting for more information.

While DC co-CEO James Gunn's new shared universe is still in its infancy, there are DC projects set outside of it. Namely Matt Reeves' The Batman franchise, which is currently streaming with an HBO Max subscription. Its long-awaited sequel, Part II, is finally in production, with fans eager for any information about the upcoming DC movie. Unfortunately, Colin Farrell's recent comments about his next appearance as The Penguin are seriously bumming me out.

What we know about The Batman: Part II is extremely limited, with fans left wondering about its plot, villain, and more. And while Farrell is set to reprise his role as The Penguin, he recently offered some disappointing news about the size of his role. As the actor said in a conversation with ScreenRant:

Two scenes?! While Farrell is hyping up what Reeves and company have in store for The Batman's sequel, I can't believe that we'll be seeing so little of Oswald Cobblepot. Especially considering that his TV show The Penguin is what reignited my interest in that burgeoning franchise. I need more than just a few appearances by Farrell's iconic villain!

The Penguin's finale teased another showdown with The Dark Knight, who was noticeably absent throughout the spinoff. It's unclear if we'll ever get a second season, but his role in The Batman: Part II was still an exciting prospect. Alas, it looks like he won't have very much screen time when that title hits theaters in 2027.

Fans who spent years watching the DC movies in order will recall how Colin Farrell helped to bring attention to The Batman, namely because he was so unrecognizable as The Penguin. He crushed it in that role, which is no doubt why a TV spinoff came his way. So the fact that he'll seemingly be so underused in Part II is baffling and honestly disappointing. Seriously, I love this version of the famous Batman villain.

It's possible that Penguin's two scenes will have a huge impact in The Batman's sequel, but I maintain that his role being so small is a misstep. I'll still be seeing it in theaters, but I'm feeling skeptical.

All will be revealed when The Batman: Part II hits theaters on October 1st, 2027. Since it's not part of the 2026 movie release list, fans are going to have to be patient while waiting for more news.

It’s been a long wait, but Bat-fans can finally take comfort in knowing that The Batman: Part II will finally start filming in the UK this month. Because of that, it’ll only be a matter of time before leading man Robert Pattinson dons that cape and cowl again. Obviously, the witty actor can’t share any specific details about the story Matt Reeves is cooking up for this upcoming superhero movie. However, Pattinson did just share insight into how many night shoots he has in the immediate future, and the thought of it makes me sleepy.

Obviously, the vast majority of the live-action Batman movies predominantly take place at night, considering that’s when the eponymous character mostly operates. What some fans may not think about, though, is that it means the cast and crew have to endure long evenings of filming in the dark. Pattinson himself alluded to that as part of an interview with GQ, when he mentioned hearing from one of the superhero film’s stunt performers. Apparently, Pattinson hadn’t even received a schedule when he learned a big piece of info:

So I’m someone who understands how film shoots work and, as such, I completely understand the need for night shoots, especially with a franchise like The Batman. However, the notion of working 11 weeks worth of nights just sounds exhausting. What I find humorously ironic about Pattinson’s response to that information, though, is that he doesn’t even lament the sheer number of late hours he’ll be working. For the Good Time star, he’s more curious as to how someone else knows what’s going down and he doesn’t.

The need to film at night is only one part of Robert Pattinson’s responsibilities for Part II, of course. As with the first film, Pattinson must train and build up muscle to fill out that costume, and it sounds like he’s already working on his regimen. The A-lister has a home gym he’s been utilizing ahead of the shoot, and it seems he’s aiming to put in the work. During his chat with GQ, Pattinson recalled being criticized for supposedly not getting big enough while preparing for the first movie:

Still, the Drama actor can admit that he contributed to the less-than-positive responses by deeming exercise lame, as he said he was just “trying to sound cool” at the time. Although Pattinson will have to endure workouts and night shoots in the weeks to come, he does seem very excited about the film. He previously teased that Reeves and co. would be taking some “big swings” and, as a fan, I’m truly pumped about what this film might offer.

I’m just hoping that Robert Pattinson has plenty of Bat-Coffee on hand for those various night sessions. The road through production is sure to be long, but I’m optimistic that the finished film will have been well worth all of those hours of shooting late. So check out The Batman: Part II when it opens in theaters on October 1, 2027, and stream the OG film now using an HBO Max subscription. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go take a nap.

For anyone who sorely misses spending time amidst the streets of Gotham City, Matt Reeves’ upcoming DC movie The Batman: Part II is the grimmest and most corrupt oasis imaginable, and I cannot wait for it to finally arrive in October 2027. After months of casting rumors and speculation, the director formally revealed the sequel’s new and returning cast members, setting in stone Sebastian Stan’s casting news that surfaced back in January. All signs seem to point to the MCU actor portraying Harvey Dent / Two-Face, but something is amiss.

A week after rumors suggested actors are playing different roles from what’s expected (including unfounded claims about Scarlett Johansson and Charles Dance’s characters), Stan actually spoke out about it himself when talking to Deadline about his latest Cannes debut, the drama Fjord. Here’s the extremely peculiar wording he used when describing his impending performance(s):

In Gotham City, where vigilantes and theatrical villains are a dime a dozen, it’s not uncommon for actors to think of playing costumed heroes and buttoned-up alter egos as different roles. But we’re almost always talking binaries in that sense: secret identity & hero / villain. In this case, the morally upward attorney Harvey Dent and the acid-burned, coin-tethered Two-Face. To say “many roles” is a heightening that sparks lots of lofty and unlikely ideas, at least in my own head.

But as much as I’d like to broaden my speculation borders for these purposes, the outlet presents Stan’s quotes within the specific context of portraying Two Face, even if the actor doesn’t use the villain’s name himself. Speaking about the hair and makeup teams that will be crafting his presumably iconic look, the Romanian star shared this:

At least those notions all add up and sound completely reasonable, without immediately inspiring ideas about Sebastian Stan playing other characters. Plus, the initial Two-Face concept shots were shared by the actor’s stylist, so this does all track well enough.

However, I'm still stuck on the "many characters," which could feasibly play into the fact that he's been training and bulking up for the film. While that's a common move for actors in superhero movies, Harvey isn't any kind of superbuff, weight-lifting lawyer when he gets disfigured, and Two-Face would almost always rather use a gun than his fists. So why is Stan getting so toned up?

Scarlett Johansson’s first look sparked theories about who she'll be playing, with many fans opting for Gilda Dent, who factors quite heavily into the comics' Long Halloween arc, which is an inspiration for Matt Reeves. And who better to play a married couple within the DCU than two MCU actors?

Could Stan be playing both Harvey Dent and his own father, Christopher Dent? That's the role Charles Dance was rumored for, but who knows? Maybe Stan will also play the doomed acrobat father of Dick Grayson, and that's why he's having to build up more muscle again, for all the trapeze work. That seems like a stretch, though.

I'm sure it'll be months before we get another quote that ramps up the speculation dial quite like that, but if fellow co-stars Brian Tyree Henry or Sebastian Koch have any of their own offbeat quotes to share about their characters, I'm all (cowl) ears.

The Batman: Part II is set to swoop into theaters on October 1, 2027.

While co-CEO James Gunn is crafting the newly formed DCU, there's one franchise that's not part of it: Matt Reeves' The Batman movies. His first sequel is one of the most highly anticipated upcoming DC movies, even though Part II has been delayed until 2027. Fans are curious about what the director has up his sleeve, and I'm hoping that Paul Dano's Riddler returns. Although his latest comments about the mysterious blockbuster are seriously bumming me out.

What we know about The Batman: Part II is super limited, and it sounds like that might be the case for some actors from the burgeoning franchise as well. Case in point: Dano's conversation with Collider, which made it seem like he's not sure if he's coming back. In the actor's words:

What do you mean you "hope", Mr. Dano? Does that mean we shouldn't expect The Riddler to pop up during the mysterious runtime of The Batman: Part II? He was the main antagonist of the first film, so I assume there are plenty of moviegoers who might share my feelings of disappointment if this comes to fruition.

Fans who spent years watching the DC movies in order will recall that Riddler was finally taken down during The Batman's ending, and promptly sent to Arkham Asylum. This opened the door for Barry Keoghan's cameo as Joker, although whether or not he gets to appear in Part II remains a mystery as well.

While The Batman's sequel is largely a mystery, Matt Reeves confirmed that production is officially underway. The promotional campaign also quickly picked up, with the filmmaker releasing brief clips of actors that have inspired theories about who they might be playing... especially Scarlett Johansson and Sebastian Stan. So while it's early, hopefully we'll get some concrete information sooner rather than later.

While the first Batman movie hit theaters back in 2022, anticipation for the sequel was buoyed by the TV spinoff The Penguin (which is streaming with a HBO Max subscription). And with fans debating which villains might appear, it's clear that folks are still invested in Reeves' take on Gotham City.

The Batman: Part II is currently expected to arrive in theaters on October 1st, 2027. Since its not part of the 2026 movie release list, fans are going to have to try and be patient before we get information about whether or not Paul Dano will appear.

While comic book fans can still look forward to one upcoming DC movie hitting theaters in 2026 — James Watkins’ creepy Clayface — we’re still sadly a ways off from reconnecting with Matt Reeves’ Gotham City. That said, The Batman: Part II is filming, and Reeves surprised the fandom by officially confirming some of the new and returning actors starring in the sequel. But no such confirmations were made regarding the new additions’ characters.

Obviously Robert Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne and other established Gothamites will be back for the second feature, but what of the latest recruits: Sebastian Stan, Scarlett Johansson, Charles Dance, Brian Tyree Henry and Sebastian Koch? Here’s a basic look at what roles fans are thinking these actors are set for, based in part on pre-confirmation rumors.

On the one hand, the assumptions above all make a certain amount of sense, in that none of the speculation seems bizarrely over the top. If someone was trying to say Scar-Jo is actually playing The Joker's daughter, that would be a tad too far for me to buy into it. But on the surface, everything above tracks.

So why didn't Matt Reeves go all the way by confirming each of the roles that the new actors will be taking on? Even if he was intent on keeping Henry and Koch's roles under wraps, surely it would have made sense to the filmmaker to give fans a bone by validating all the predictions and assumptions about the Dent family's casting. Maybe it's because we've been wrong this whole time.

Rumor Suggests Batman Part II Castings Aren't For Roles We Think

The second Reeves' posts started spreading without any specific corroboration about the roles Stan, Johansson and others were playing, I started to think that something was fishy about it all. And I'm not just talking about Oz Cobb's B.O.

Those pangs of disbelief were seemingly justified when noted Hollywood insider Jeff Sneider shared a possible inside scoop on the latest episode of The Hot Mic shared to YouTube. There, Sneider revealed the grain-of-salt update from one of his sources who claimed that the current casting assumptions are off-base.

Sebastian Stan's Role

The insider says Stan is set to play a villain that isn't Two-Face, but doesn't indicate what the role actually is (allegedly). That would absolutely make sense for why the actor has been bulking up recently, since there isn't much of a reason for Stan to bring his muscles to swole levels to play a lawyer. Getting half of one's face/body gnarled up by acid isn't a fast track to buff-dom, and though Two-Face has never been depicted as a weakling, he handles his problems via guns and henchmen, not fistfights.

Given Stan and Robert Pattinson's similar ages (43 and 40, respectively), a lot of fans (like myself) have been holding out hopes that the MCU star is joining Reeves' Bat-verse as Tommy Elliot, otherwise known as the mega-villain Hush. The Batman linked the Elliot family to the Waynes' murders, and The Penguin gave insight into Gotham City's Elliot Bridge and its namesakes. It'd be weird to lay out that groundwork with no payoff in Part II, but we obviously can't say for sure just yet where it's going.

Charles Dance's Role

The other claim made in the grain-of-salt email sent to Jeff Sneider is that Game of Thrones vet Charles Dance will be playing the father of Scarlett Johansson's character. Which one could take in several ways, especially if one believes Stan is playing Hush. So let's take a big swing here.

This switcheroo detail doesn't necessarily negate the previous belief that Dance is playing the father of the District Attorney who becomes Two-Face. It does, however, set up the idea that the Black Widow star could be portraying a gender-swapped version of Two-Face. Or maybe neither actor will be part of the live-action Dent family.

Scarlett Johansson's Role

If Scar-Jo isn't playing Gilda or a would-be Two-Face, could she be taking on the role of Andrea Beaumont, introduced as the titular vigilante in 1993's Batman: Mask of the Phantasm? That would probably get fans generally more pumped than a female Two-Face, especially if Dance would be locked in as Andrea's father Carl Beaumont.

I do still like the idea of Johansson playing The Long Halloween's take on Gilda Dent, given the sordid events that play out in that arc. But I wouldn't complain about seeing her as any of The Batman: Part II's villainous entities.

Sneider and host John Rocha also speculated about whether or not Brian Tyree Henry could be stealthily playing a race-swapped Harvey Dent and Two-Face, which sounds pretty fantastic to me. I'd take Henry as Batman as well. Or whatever role he wanted, really.

Hopefully we'll find out whether or not these speculation sessions were worthy of happening long before The Batman: Part II actually hits theaters on October 1, 2027.

When news broke that one of the upcoming DC movies was a film based on Clayface, I thought, Um, well, that’s certainly a choice. And, it’s not because I don’t like the character (in fact, as you’ll soon see, I actually LOVE the character!). It was more along the lines of me thinking, Why him?

Truth be told, I only learned of the character from seeing two of the best Batman: The Animated Series episodes, “Feat of Clay: Parts 1 and 2” when I was a kid. Because unlike say, The Joker, or The Penguin, or The Riddler, Clayface was always one of the more obscure villains in Batman’s rogues gallery, and often used for Scooby Doo-esque reveals.

But, whoa. After watching that trailer, I can’t WAIT for this movie. So, here’s why I’m now super excited for this upcoming film.

Clayface Was Always My Favorite Villain From Batman: The Animated Series

Despite having no idea who Clayface was until I saw those aforementioned Batman: The Animated Series (B:TAS) episodes, I’ve been a fan ever since! For those who weren’t alive to watch it when it first aired, B:TAS actually introduced a lot of cool Batman villains to kids and adults back then, such as Mad Hatter, Clock King, and Man-Bat. These were all villains who had comic book origins, but weren’t in any of the movies at the time.

However, out of all of the Batman villains that I learned about from the cartoon, the one who captivated me the most was definitely Clayface. A disfigured actor named Matt Hagen, who uses a chemical called Renuyu (Think of it like The Substance) that can transform his face, ends up getting himself into a heap of trouble. In one nightmarish scene, we see silhouettes of men holding him down and pouring the chemical down his throat, which mutates him.

In that way, Clayface - in this animated version, anyway - is a tragic character. Being an actor, he’s obsessed with the fame that came attached to it, and just wants his old face back. He resorts to a life of crime to get what he wants, but once he’s turned into a monster, he’s resentful of the world and just wants to be left alone so that he can continue committing crimes. But, in swoops Batman, messing up his plans. Of course.

That said, I’m interested to see how they could even make a Clayface movie without Batman. But, I wasn’t always interested…

I Actually Didn't Have High Hopes For Clayface At All...Until I Saw That Trailer

Oh, man. From the very first glimpse that we get in the trailer of a man in bandages, I was already unsettled. It’s the eyes. I can’t take how hopeless and scared they look. Not only that, but then there’s that low drone before the song, “Do You Realize?” by The Flaming Lips, which automatically gives me goosebumps (Mainly because it reminds me of the “Winkies” scene in one of my favorite horror movies, Mulholland Drive).

We then get shots of what our protagonist (played by Tom Rhys Harries) looked like BEFORE his disfigurement, only to see a quick shot of his face getting slashed by a razor blade. So, at this point, I’m already like, “I’m out.” But then, we see another quick shot of what looks like the protagonist with a waxy, plastic mask on, followed by injections, and all other matters of mad scientist stuff.

The song then keeps repeating "Beautiful face,” which is juxtaposed by shots of a melting face, lips trying to pry themselves apart as if they’re glued together, and then other haunting images as we’re assaulted (yes, assaulted) with the words “Look” “Fear” “In” “The” “Face.”

They could have just ended there, but THEN we see an inhuman silhouette stretching against a wall, as well as a later scene of Tom Rhys Harries soaking in a bathtub, only to smear his face with his hand. And do you know what? THAT’S how you make a trailer, because now I’m invested. And do you know why? Because…

I Am SO In For A Comic Book-Themed Horror Movie

I like comic book movies. I mean, I used to like them a lot more, but I still watch them…on occasion. They’re fun. That said, one thing that kind of annoys me about them is that a lot of them are still aimed toward a much younger demographic, and that’s fine. Not every movie needs to be geared toward my preferences. I do personally love it when comic book films veer toward hard-R ratings, like my favorite comic book movie, Dredd.

However, do you know what I love even more than comic book movies? Horror flicks! In fact, I’d say that horror is my favorite genre of film. That’s why I’ve seen most of the best horror movies of all time, and I’m always down for a good scare…until I’m not, but, that’s neither here nor there. What is important is that I’ve never yet gotten a film that’s actually melded those two genres together

Which is really cool, since Clayface looks to be leaning in that direction in a major way. Yes, there have been attempts in the past to do comic book horror, such as the Blade movies, and the Disney+ special, Werewolf by Night, but I mean a movie that is primarily a horror movie first, and a comic book movie second. That’s something I’ve never quite seen before.

That is something that I now desperately want after seeing that teaser trailer. Even without having seen the movie yet, it actually gets me pumped for the future.

If It's Successful, It Makes Me Excited For Other Potential Horror Stories In The Universe

You know what didn’t work? The Sony Spider-Man movies without Spider-Man. Now, I’m not talking about the Venom trilogy, which actually did well, all things considered. I’m talking about movies like Morbius, Madam Web, and Kraven the Hunter. These were all films that took Spider-Man villains of sorts, and gave them their own backstory, all to middling results.

However, I’m looking forward to Clayface since I’m really interested in seeing what story they tell, especially with a horror twist. I’m thinking it will employ lots of body horror and really delve deep into the psyche of this man who’s going through a horrific transformation.

And, it just gets me thinking of what other Batman villains could fit the bill for horror. My first thought immediately went to Professor Pyg, and if Clayface does well, I’d love to see a horror story revolve around his character.

Or what about Calendar Man? A story about a serial killer who plans murders on major holidays? Yes, please. A Mister Zsasz film? Terrifying! A Ventriloquist & Scarface movie? Can we greenlight that now, please? The point is, this could be a winning formula and I want to see it happen in the future if Clayface is good.

I Just Want To Be Scared, And Clayface Could Fit The Bill

Most importantly of all, I just want to be scared, and I think Clayface could definitely fit the bill.

For one thing, I hate distorted faces, and we already see that in the trailer. For another, body horror really disturbs me, and that’s what this movie is all about.

Plus, the trailer just has incredible tension throughout, and with the bandaged face, it gives me serious Goodnight Mommy vibes, which is one of the horror movies that I’m too scared to watch.

So, I went from not caring about Clayface to circling October 23rd on my calendar. That’s how good this movie looks. Will YOU be seeing it?

Undoubtedly, when it comes to upcoming DC movies, there’s a ton of excitement about the sequel to The Batman starring Robert Pattinson after his take on the Caped Crusader became a quick favorite take on the hero. And after a long wait, production is finally kicking off ahead of its release date next year. Earlier this week, writer/director Matt Reeves shared a first look at what they’re working on, and fans have a lot of thoughts about one mysterious casting reveal.

On Wednesday, Reeves took to Twitter to introduce the cast of The Batman - Part II with a series of posts. It gave us our first look at who Scarlett Johansson is playing, along with official reveals that the likes of Sebastian Stan (who’s reportedly playing Harvey Dent), Brian Tyree Henry and Charles Dance are joining this time around. One particularly interesting casting update was the addition of German actor Sebastian Koch. A first look at the actor in character was posted, but fans have multiple ideas of who he could be playing. Check it out:

Matt Reeves wrote “Locked and loaded for Gotham… Welcome” with a look at Koch dramatically putting down a gun. The comment section is full of theories about who the actor could be playing, with one being Mr. Freeze, as you can see in the post above. It doesn’t seem like anyone can fully agree on which character he’ll be playing, though. As another fan wrote:

I don’t see this, but there were a few people throwing out the idea that Koch could be playing Jeremiah Arkham, a supervillain in the Batman comics, who’s the head of Arkham Asylum. Here’s another popular idea coming out of Twitter:

For some reason, fans are convinced Koch’s going to play a mad scientist? Hugo Strange is a villain who’s obsessed with Batman and his identity, and he is one of the few foes of his who actually figured out it's Bruce Wayne. Having Hugo Strange in The Batman - Part II definitely would go with the tone of Matt Reeves’ movie, but I’m most inclined to believe the theory I’ve been seeing the most around this reveal. Check out all these comments:

“HARVEY BULLOCK IS THAT YOU?” - @nightswayness

“Idk who this is but i hope he is playing Harvey Bullock” - @Columned

“yeah with that caption it's gotta be bullock” - @AxelTalksFilm

“Sebastian Koch playing Harvey Bullock and Sebastian Stan playing Harvey Dent is just perfect” - @GothamChief

“Bullock? Perhaps a totally new character.” - @BATMANONFILM

Harvey Bullock is a GCPD officer who is a loyal, albeit cynical, ally to Commissioner Gordon. He’s often portrayed as a dirty cop who doesn’t trust Batman. This first look definitely gives those vibes, but we’ll have to wait and see to learn who Koch is actually playing.

Who knows, all of these could be totally wrong! But no matter what, I'm sure Matt Reeves has a good plan in place, and we'll get to see his vision brought to life when the movie hits theaters on October 1, 2027.

Director Matt Reeves continues to share images from The Batman: Part II, and now we have our first look at Scarlett Johansson in her mysterious role. The internet has its guesses, and it looks like they've settled on her playing the spouse of an iconic Batman rogue.

As big names like Sebastian Stan are attached to this upcoming superhero movie, fans think they've cracked the code on Johannson's part in the DC movie. Take a look below at who many believe is Gilda Dent:

For those who may not be familiar, Gilda Dent is the wife of Harvey Dent. Her story is all over the place amongst her various appearances in DC Comics. The common thread is that her loyalty to her husband, even after his transformation into Two Face, is unwavering.

Keep in mind, none of this is confirmed. That said, there's plenty of chatter online about Scarlett Johansson's role. For the time being, it seems there's a small army of people convinced she's playing Gilda:

• That’s gilda dent alright - @Mandevil23
• Scarlett Johansson saying 'I Believe in Harvey Dent' is gonna be so iconic - @_CinemaHub_
• LETS GOOOOOOO. WELCOME GILDA DENT 🙏🔥🦇 - @TheBatmanSagaNW
• Gilda Dent is here and I’m already terrified for Harvey. - @HashimKhanoo7
• Welcome to Gotham, Gilda This cast is stacking impossibly good. Can’t wait for the Dent family drama in Reeves’ world - @al_saudigirl

People seem pretty convinced, but again, we don't know this is for sure who Scarlett Johansson will be playing in The Batman: Part II. That said, her short dark hair does seem to match up with the comic panels that people are sharing online.

This latest look arrives as conversation continues about which villains will appear in The Batman: Part 2. We already know Colin Farrell is back as Penguin, and many believe Sebastian Stan is playing Harvey Dent. There's also whispers of Barry Keoghan appearing as Joker, and the general snow theme surrounding the movie has people wondering if Mr. Freeze may show up as well.

All this to say, adding Scarlett Johansson on top of every other big name that is in the movie is wild. The Batman: Part II is not hurting for talented actors, and I wonder if a role like Gilda Dent could be too small for someone of Johansson's caliber in Hollywood. She has experience in the MCU as a superhero, so maybe her role could be closer tied to something like that?

We still have a long time to find out for sure, as The Batman: Part II is not showing up in theaters until October 1st, 2027. I'm curious to see how much we learn about all of these characters in the lead-up to the next adventure, and if this movie sets the stage for another follow-up.

Sebastian Stan has spent the past few years making career choices that make it hard to pin him down. He played Donald Trump in The Apprentice, disappeared under prosthetics in A24’s A Different Man, returned to Marvel as Bucky Barnes in Thunderbolts* and is now heading to Gotham as Harvey Dent in the upcoming The Batman: Part II. Finally, he’s breaking his silence on joining Matt Reeves second entry in the standalone The Batman franchise, and his comments have me so excited.

In a new interview with Deadline, Stan discussed his upcoming DC movie role, his 2026 movie release, Fjord, fatherhood, masculinity and the immigrant experience. He will soon begin work on The Batman: Part II in London, where he is set to play Harvey Dent, the Gotham district attorney who becomes the villain Two-Face. Asked about joining Matt Reeves’ Batman universe, Stan said:

That is not a plot reveal, of course. The Captain America: First Avenger star is not spilling Arkham files across the table. But for fans waiting to see where Reeves takes Robert Pattinson’s Caped Crusader next, the word “surprise” is the little green light flickering at the end of a dark hallway.

Reeves’ The Batman was less interested in the new superhero movie spectacle than in mood and in delving into the character's detective angle, which so many adaptations have completely left behind.

Reeves' Gotham felt wet, sick and infected by old money. Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne was still a young vigilante, less polished icon than wounded insomniac in a cape. Dropping Harvey Dent into that world makes a lot of sense, especially if Reeves wants to keep digging into Gotham’s broken institutions.

Dent has always worked best when he is more than a villain. In most iterations of the character, he begins as a public servant, a prosecutor, and a symbol of reform. One of my favorite versions of the character is the groundbreaking Batman: The Animated Series from the early '90s, and in that series, Harvey Dent and Bruce Wayne were great friends before Dent’s fall and turn to crime, which makes the fall more devastating. If Stan is playing the character before the full transformation into Two-Face, there is room for something more tragic than the standard comic-book-movie fare.

That is where Stan feels like such an interesting fit. He has made a career out of characters whose faces don’t tell the whole story. Bucky Barnes is a soldier-turned-weapon who spends years trying to crawl back toward himself. His Oscar-nominated turn in The Apprentice asked him to inhabit a public figure without turning the performance into a simple impersonation. A Different Man and Fjord both point to an actor who seems increasingly interested in discomfort, contradiction and roles that do not flatter him, and that has me so excited to see what he brings to the world of Gotham City.

The bigger question is how much of Two-Face we will actually see in The Batman: Part II. Reeves may be setting up Dent’s downfall rather than rushing straight to it, which could be the smarter move. The first film took its time with Gotham’s sickness. Letting Harvey stand inside that system before it devours him could make the eventual turn nastier.

We still have time to wait and speculate about Dent’s future as The Batman Part II doesn’t hit theaters until October 1, 2027. Fans can return to Reeve’s first take on The Dark Knight by revisiting The Batman with an HBO Max subscription.

The DCU is still in its infancy, but fans are excited for the upcoming DC movies that co-CEO James Gunn is crafting. But Matt Reeves' The Batman franchise isn't set within the shared universe, and therefore operates on its own rules. The highly anticipated sequel will feature Sebastian Stan as Harvey Dent/ Two-Face, and he's looking ripped while training for the forthcoming blockbuster.

Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order know Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes, but he'll be pivoting over to the DC side of things for The Batman Part II. He's getting personal training from Rise Movement, who shared a photo of him fueling up over on Instagram. And the 43 year-old actor's arms are looking ripped, as you can see below:

Holy arms, Batman! It looks like Robert Pattinson's title character might have the odds stacked against him in The Batman Part II, because Harvey Dent is looking swole AF. We'll have to see how much action the actor gets into in the DC blockbuster, and if he actually transforms into the beloved Batman villain Two-Face. But he's clearly taking prep for the sequel seriously.

The comments section of the above post is filled with folks giving Stan his flowers for looking so ripped ahead of filming The Batman Part II. Plenty of folks are comparing him to Pattinson, who is much more slim than most of the Bruce Wayne actors. Although in his defense he was looking very fit in the first movie.

While we didn't actually get to see Sebastian Stan workout in this clip, we can see the fruits of his labor. Both his arms and chest are looking huge, so whatever regimen he's on seems to be working. We'll just have to wait and see if either the trainer or the actor himself put out some thirst traps on social media during their continued collaboration.

The Batman's sequel has been delayed a number of times, but anticipation has been buoyed thanks to its spinoff TV series The Penguin. James Gunn made it sounds like a new Bruce Wayne won't be introduced to the newly formed DCU until Matt Reeves' movie is released, so hopefully it still ends up hitting theaters as currently planned.

The Batman Part II is expected to arrive on the big screen on October 1st, 2027. Since it's not part of the 2026 movie release list, we'll have to practice some patience until the first footage from the highly anticipated title are finally released.

As the new DC Universe continues rolling out its first chapter, Gods & Monsters, Matt Reeves’ The Batman still occupies its own strange little corner of Gotham. Robert Pattinson’s Batman is not part of the main DCU timeline, at least for now and honestly, that separation has become part of what makes Reeves’ world feel so distinct. So, naturally, people keep asking whether Pattinson’s caped crusader should eventually get folded into the larger DCU. Beloved The Batman star Paul Dano was asked about the idea, and I really appreciate his perspective.

Dano, who played the Riddler in The Batman, recently spoke with MovieWeb and was asked whether Pattinson’s Caped Crusader should be brought into the main DCU timeline. He did not give a hard yes or no, which is probably wise. Instead, he focused on Reeves’ point of view as a filmmaker, saying:

That is the exact take I have. Dano isn’t trashing the DCU or acting like shared universes are beneath Reeves’ work. He just seems to understand that The Batman is special because it has a very specific pulse. It feels like a detective story someone left in a damp basement with a stack of Nirvana records. Any attempts to sand that down so it fits neatly beside every other upcoming DC project would feel unnecessary. One of the smartest things DC can do right now is let different corners of the brand actually feel unique.

At this point, that already seems to be part of the plan. Supergirl is set for the 2026 movie schedule, hitting theaters on June 26, with Milly Alcock leading the Craig Gillespie-directed movie. Also, Clayface, for which a trailer was recently released, is also on the DC slate and appears to be aiming for a very different tone altogether. That range is what is making the DCU releases more interesting than other new superhero movies.

Then there’s Batman himself. DC Studios is still developing The Brave and the Bold, the announced main DCU Batman movie, with Andy Muschietti attached to direct. That project is expected to introduce a separate version of Bruce Wayne, meaning DC can have its connected Dark Knight while Reeves keeps building Pattinson’s Elseworlds version without turning every creative decision into a continuity spreadsheet.

That’s why I like Dano’s answer so much. He’s basically arguing for personality. Let Reeves’ Gotham be Reeves’ Gotham. Let Gunn’s DCU have its own Batman. Let weird little pockets of the brand breathe without forcing them to hold hands in the name of an interconnected Universe.

For now, it feels like the right call forThe Batman (which is streamable with an HBO Max subscription) and the forthcoming The Batman Part II to remain in their own Elseworlds lane. Reeves’ sequel is currently set for Oct. 1, 2027, giving everyone plenty of time to speculate about the villains and create fan theories.

Until then, Dano’s take is the one I’m sticking with: bring more point-of-view filmmaking to Gotham and let the rest sort itself out in the Batcave.

It feels like a lifetime since The Batman came out and Robert Pattinson and director Matt Reeves set the world on fire with their take on the Caped Crusader, but the movie only came out in 2022. I think it's more a sign of how desperate I am to see The Batman: Part II, so I'm thankful that Reeves has finally shared the first images from the anticipated sequel.

Amidst the critical success of The Penguin, Pattinson is hyping up audiences about the upcoming big swings the sequel will take, and teases about The Joker, we now have official photos from the set. Reeves shared some camera shots of cars driving in the snow, which isn't much, but it has me hype all the same:

It's snowing in Gotham City in The Batman: Part II, which already gives me Batman Returns vibes. I would love another Batman movie that takes place around Christmas, though snow can obviously come both before and after the holiday.

Snow draws obvious comparisons to iconic Batman villain Mr. Freeze, who was infamously played by Arnold Schwarzenegger in the flop Batman & Robin. There's been a lot of speculation that Victor Fries might appear, and fans have a lot of ideas about who could play the character. I'm not 100% convinced we'll see him, though with snow being a part of the story I wouldn't suspect someone like Poison Ivy is going to take center stage in this adventure.

Penguin is also another villain with ties to the cold, and given the success of his series (available to stream with an HBO Max subscription). He's going to appear in The Batman: Part II, but told THR that he expected his role to be role in the movie to be smaller. I guess they need to save screentime for if they can convince Colin Farrell to get back in those prosthetics for The Penguin Season 2, which I'd love to see.

Ultimately, we're still largely in the dark about many details concerning The Batman: Part II, but that feels right given we're still over a year out from its release. Hopefully we'll get a teaser, poster, or some other details before the end of this month, though, because I'm getting even more eager to see this movie after two shots of cars driving in the snow. Is that weird? Absolutely, but those who get it don't need any further explanation.

The Batman: Part II is coming out in October 2027, and I'm sure it'll be a hit for DC and get everyone hype yet again about seeing Batman in live-action. I'm eager to see what's on the way, as well as what may come after.

As The Batman: Part II inches closer to the beginning of principal photography, a number of questions remain regarding the Matt Reeves-helmed movie. One particular detail that’s been heavily discussed by fans is whether Barry Keoghan will reprise his role as the Joker. Unsurprisingly, Keoghan himself has played coy whenever he’s been asked about the prospect of reprising the Clown Prince of Crime. The Irish actor did the same thing during a recent interview, yet I’m still convinced he’ll be returning for the sequel.

Keoghan’s Mr. J only appears briefly at the end of 2022’s The Batman, as his silhouette can be seen while he forms an alliance with the unsuspecting Riddler in Arkham Asylum. However, following the release of the film, Warner Bros. officially released a deleted scene featuring Joker. Keoghan recently took part in Wired’s Autocomplete Interview (which was shared to YouTube), and one of the questions posed was in regard to why his Joker scene was cut. Keoghan didn’t provide an exact reason, but he did share these thoughts:

The scene in question is very entertaining, as it shows the incarcerated clown being interrogated by the Dark Knight (played by Robert Pattinson), who seeks his thoughts on the Riddler’s crimes. Overall, the deleted moment quickly and effectively illustrates the dynamic between the two foes, and it’s a major reason why I want to see Keoghan play the Gotham City rogue again. Keoghan also addressed the prospect of playing the role again:

Considering the Banshees of Inisherin star’s uneasiness and quickness to move away from the topic, I’m more than tempted to believe he’s poised to make a comeback as Joker. It’s definitely not uncommon for actors affiliated with certain projects to deny involvement until something is made official. For example, I can still remember when Paul Rudd tried to brush off the report that he’d been cast as Ant-Man. So, while Keoghan may not have provided any kind of confirmation, his deflection suggests there’s something big he can’t talk about.

Keoghan may not be keen on divulging any details on what lies ahead for his Joker, but he is fully aware of how massive the gig is. He previously referred to the role as being “a big one” and emphasized the “iconic” nature of the character. Considering that Jack Nicholson, Heath Ledger and Joaquin Phoenix are among the actors who’ve played versions of the DC Comics villain over the years, it’s clear that Keoghan is following in the footsteps of some titans. Considering Keoghan’s solid debut as the character, I’d love to see him get a chance to further develop this iteration alongside Matt Reeves.

Of course, the status of the Joker is just one query swirling around this Batman sequel, as fans still don’t even know what the actual plot will be. At the very least, it’s been reported that some newcomers are joining the fold, including blockbuster franchise queen Scarlett Johansson, and she’ll be joined by Sebastian Stan, a fellow MCU alum. Here’s hoping Keoghan is indeed part of the ensemble Reeves is putting together for this film.

The Batman: Part II is set to open in theaters on October 1, 2027. While fans wait for the film, they can stream its predecessor as well as the spinoff series, The Penguin, using an HBO Max subscription.