Erik Messerschmidt to DP Matt Reeves’ ‘The Batman: Part II’

Greig Fraser had stepped away from Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune: Part Three” and Matt Reeves’ “The Batman: Part II” due to his commitment to shooting all four Sam Mendes–directed Beatles movies.

That raised the question: Who would take over behind the camera on that “Batman” sequel? Today we got our answer.

According to The InSneider, whose newsletter I highly recommend, Erik Messerschmidt has been tapped to serve as the DP on “The Batman: Part II.” He’s supposed to continue shooting David Fincher’s “The Adventures of Cliff Booth” until January, and then head straight into Reeves’ sequel in February/March.

Messerschmidt — known for his work with Fincher (“Mindhunter,” “Mank,” “The Killer”) and Michael Mann (“Ferrari”) — is a somewhat inspired choice. His precise, controlled, and moody photography will suit “The Batman” well. I would have preferred Roger Deakins, but what were the odds of that ever happening?

Then again, back in March 2023, when asked to name his pick for the Cinematography Oscar, Deakins quickly pointed out Fraser’s work on the film: “The best cinematography [of 2022] wasn’t Oscar-nominated. It’s “The Batman.” That’s the best work in my view.”

Deakins went on to add: “The reason it wasn’t [nominated] is pure and simple: snobbery. There’s this unfair tendency to avoid the Marvel/DC universe and the other popular universes.”

Fraser shot the hell out of that film; no matter its flaws, it was quite possibly the best-looking Batman movie ever made. His other notable credits include “Dune,” “Dune: Part Two,” “Foxcatcher,” “Killing Them Softly,” “Zero Dark Thirty,” and “Vice.”

“The Batman: Part Two” is supposed to start production in early 2026. Although Robert Pattinson will no doubt be back in the titular role, no casting or plot details have been announced at this time, and we don’t even know who the villain will be. I expect something to come out this month.

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