After two years of anticipation, The Batman Part II is well on its way by Matt Reeves, so much so that it just got a huge update from the director (and some potentially disappointing news). The upcoming sequel will quickly follow up the critically acclaimed spinoff The Penguin, which stars Colin Farrell but does not feature an appearance by Robert Pattinson’s Batman. Fret not, as fans will not have to wait much longer for The Batman Part II, as the script is finally complete after years of development. However, one vital aspect of the franchise is in doubt.
Leading up to The Batman, Matt Reeves took his time crafting the screenplay and laying out the details of his new Gotham-centric DC universe. The final result spoke for itself, and Reeves would once again take an extended period to develop its sequel. Two years after the first film was released, Reeves has now told Entertainment Weekly that he’s finished writing the script for Part II alongside co-writer Mattson Tomlin. Moreover, the director says “there’s a period of time” that the sequel will take place after the events of The Batman and its spinoff, The Penguin. Many speculate that Part II will take his epic crime story to the wintertime, but Reeves won’t spill the deets: “I can’t tell you where it goes from there, except to say that we’re super excited about it.“
In an interview with Collider, Reeves was asked about Greig Fraser’s involvement in The Batman Part II. Fraser served as the cinematographer for the first film, a vital architect to the universe’s overall look and feel. It’s clear that Reeves has every intention of bringing the Oscar-winning DP back to Gotham, but nothing is confirmed just yet.
“I don’t know yet. I certainly hope that the timing will work out for that, but I actually don’t know. We’re not to the place where we know that yet. I hope that’s the case because I just love working with him. I think he’s the best. Actually, he was a little bit involved in the series, too, because I said I wanted to make sure the DNA was the same as we went off and found our own visual voice.”
The Batman Would Not Be The Same Without Its DP
With the news that Greg Fraser’s return as director of photography for The Batman Part II has not been settled yet, it’s hard to return to Reeves’ universe without a key collaborator. The Batman has a distinct, grounded look that is unique to any other superhero film. From the beautiful lighting to the intentional shot composition, Fraser establishes a dramatic tone fit for an epic crime saga, mixing the latest technology with a classic film look. The filmmaker literally scanned the digital footage on film to get authentic grain, on top of a bunch of other visual adjustments. In all likelihood, Fraser returns to do the upcoming sequel without a hitch, but Reeves making a point to not confirm his DP’s involvement is pretty relevant and could drastically affect what the film looks like.
If The Batman Part II moves forward without Fraser, which is admittedly unlikely, audiences can still look forward to an exciting new chapter in the franchise that does not feel rushed. Despite the fact The Batman quickly became a pop culture phenomenon in 2022, it is refreshing to see a superhero franchise not rush through sequels. The priority of quality over quality means fans will have to remain patient until six years after the first film’s release to meet Batman once again, but all signs point to it being worth the wait.
The Batman Part II
is set to release in theaters on October 2, 2026.