More intel from Puck’s Matt Belloni.
Matt Reeves is finally turning in his script for “The Batman: Part II” on Monday— news that’s sure to be met with a mix of relief and exasperation over at Warner Bros. and DC Studios.
Insiders say this script was originally expected more than a year ago, which makes the delay even more “frustrating” given that it’s now been over three years since “The Batman raked in nearly $800M worldwide and prompted a quick greenlight for the sequel.
As it stands, the follow-up won’t hit theaters until October 1, 2027—meaning Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav may go his entire first half-decade without a new film starring the company’s crown jewel IP.
According to Belloni, behind the scenes, patience has been wearing thin. There’s been chatter that DC was weighing its options, including replacing Reeves, if he couldn’t get the script done in time. The truth is, Reeves works at his own pace. He took his time crafting the first film, and he’s done the same here, all while dealing with some serious personal matters.
For his part, James Gunn has publicly backed Reeves more than once, even going so far as to tell fans via an EW interview, to “get off Matt’s nuts” and let him write in peace.
Still, the big question is whether that 2027 date is actually going to stick. A studio source tells Belloni the plan is to start shooting in January, once Robert Pattinson wraps “Dune: Part Three.” That schedule would theoretically keep the release on track—if everything from this point goes smoothly. A big “if,” especially when dealing with one of the most meticulous directors in the business.
The ‘Smile’ franchise has a new director. David Bruckner, who made “The Night House” and the 2022 “Hellraiser” reboot, has been hired to direct “Smile 3” for Paramount.