Why The Batman Sequel’s Five-Year Wait Has Fans Talking
DC’s next Batman film has been pushed back to 2027, breaking a decades-old tradition. What’s behind the record delay, and will the long wait dampen the excitement for Robert Pattinson’s return?
For those who’ve been hanging out for the next chapter in the Batman saga, the news isn’t exactly what you’d call a treat. The follow-up to the 2022 film starring Robert Pattinson has been bumped all the way to 2027, leaving punters with a five-year stretch between instalments. That’s a first for the franchise, which has stuck to a much tighter schedule for more than three decades.
Looking back, the gap between Batman films has never stretched past four years. The 1989 classic was followed up in 1992, just three years later. Batman Forever landed in 1995, and Batman & Robin arrived in 1997, both with only a couple of years in between. Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins hit screens in 2005, with The Dark Knight following three years on, and The Dark Knight Rises coming out in 2012 after a four-year pause. None of these left fans waiting as long as the current situation.
Delays, Disruptions, and a Script Still in the Works
Pattinson’s first outing as the caped crusader was a box office hit, but the road to a sequel has been anything but smooth. The original plan was to have the next film out in October 2025, then it was shifted to 2026, and now the latest word is October 2027. That’s a fair bit of shuffling for a blockbuster of this size.
Several things have thrown a spanner in the works. The 2023 strikes across Hollywood put a halt to heaps of productions, including director Matt Reeves’ projects, costing valuable time. James Gunn weighed in on Threads in 2024, stating,
The only reason for the delay is there isn’t a full script,
and pointed out that once the script is sorted, the team would still need a couple of years for all the pre-production, filming, and post work. Reeves himself mentioned in a 2025 interview that he’d had a lot going on personally, which may have also contributed to the holdup.
Will the Long Wait Dull the Hype?
It’s a tough pill to swallow for fans, but if the extra time means a better story and a stronger film, most would probably say it’s worth it. The first outing for Pattinson’s Batman was met with strong reviews and is often called one of the best takes on the character, so there’s plenty of pressure to deliver something even bigger this time around.
With a string of comic book films underperforming lately, there’s a real need to keep Batman’s reputation intact. Even with the extended delay, there’s little doubt that plenty of locals are still keen to see what’s next for Gotham’s most famous vigilante. The real challenge for the sequel will be proving that the wait hasn’t been for nothing.
Key Details and Release Info
Film: The Batman
Director: Matt Reeves
Release Date: 4 March 2022
Distributed by: Warner Bros. Pictures
IMDb Rating: 7.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 85%
The Batman: Part II is now set to hit cinemas on 1 October 2027 in the US.