Robert Pattinson’s ‘The Batman’ Sequel Officially Canceled, Future Uncertain

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A person dressed as Batman, in a weathered and battle-worn costume, looks upwards. The outfit includes a dark mask with pointed ears, a cape, and armor. The surroundings are dimly lit and appear gritty, reminiscent of the intense atmosphere expected in The Batman Sequel.

Credit: DC / Warner Bros.

The Batman sequel has been canceled.

10 years after Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight trilogy ended, Matt Reeves’ The Batman (2022) breathed new life into the long-running franchise (which turns 85 years old this year as the Caped Crusader made his debut in 1939’s “Detective Comics #27”).

Of course, that decade in between saw Ben Affleck don the cape and cowl in the DC Universe (DCU) outings, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), Suicide Squad (2016), The Flash (2023), and whichever version of Justice League you choose to acknowledge as canon.

Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne in 'The Batman'
Credit: DC / Warner Bros.

Related: Batman: Every Returning Version of the Dark Knight Explained

2022’s The Batman brought the Dark Knight back to basics, removing him from a shared cinematic universe and firmly grounding him in Gotham City and no place else. As such, the film is part of DC’s “Elseworlds” — a fancy name for standalone DC movies.

But this doesn’t mean that the Robert Pattinson-led reboot will be standalone within its own continuity. Recently, we got the official trailer for Max’s television series spinoff The Penguin (2024). The Batman sequel sees the return of Colin Farrell as the titular Gotham gangster.

Watch the trailer below, per DC Studios:

Related: DC’s Batman Reboot Finally Reveals New Dark Knight Actor and More

There’s also a theatrical The Batman sequel in development, in which Robert Pattinson will reprise his role as Bruce Wayne/Batman, alongside Jeffrey Wright’s Commissioner James Gordon, Andy Serkis’ Alfred Pennyworth, and Zoë Kravitz’ Selina Kyle/Catwoman.

However, another project intended to form part of Matt Reeves’ expanding The Batman cinematic universe has now been canceled, reports say.

Batman (Robert Pattinson) standing beneath a ray of light
Credit: DC / Warner Bros.

Related: Michael Keaton’s New ‘Batman’ (1989) Series Explained

Following four years of an indecisive and troubled production, Max’s other spinoff television series, Arkham Asylum, which had writer and showrunner Antonio Campos (Netflix’s The Punisher series) attached, is now no longer active, Variety has reported.

The show was initially intended to take place within the Gotham City Police Department, but creatives took the decision to switch the setting for Arkham Asylum, with Matt Reeves previously describing the project as a “horror movie or a haunted house that is Arkham.”

Iconic Batman villains would have included Scarecrow and Clayface, while characters from The Batman such as Commissioner James Gordon (Jeffrey Wright) were expected to appear.

Jim Gordon (Jeffrey Wright) looking up in a crime scene in 'The Batman'
Credit: DC / Warner Bros.

The article says that, “according to an individual with knowledge of the situation, [Antonio] Campos’ version will not proceed.” The insider adds that it’s “still possible” for “a new project set within the infamous Gotham City asylum could be developed in the future.”

As such, the show may still move forward but would instead likely be connected to the new upcoming version of the DC Universe (DCU) from DC Studios’ CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran, which will include the Batman reboot The Brave and the Bold (TBA).

The Batman Part II (2026) was previously delayed by a year due to the WGA (Writers Guild of America) and SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) strikes. It’s now scheduled for theatrical release on October 2, 2026.

Are you disappointed about Arkham Asylum? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!

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