The Batman Part II: Cast, Villain Rumors, 2028 Release

There’s something uniquely electric about waiting for a Batman sequel, especially when the first film left so many threads dangling, and The Batman Part II promises to deepen the noir-infused world Matt Reeves built in 2022. Here’s what we actually know about the film’s release, cast, and rumors — and where things still sit in the gray.

Director: Matt Reeves ·
Release Year: 2028 ·
Lead Actor: Robert Pattinson ·
Sequel to: The Batman (2022) ·
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures ·
Genre: Superhero / Crime

Six key facts about the production, one pattern: the only truly locked elements are the director, the lead actor, and a far-off release date. Everything else carries an asterisk.

Is Batman Part 2 coming out?

Yes — The Batman Part II is officially in development and has not been canceled despite persistent rumors. Warner Bros. Pictures has never withdrawn the project. According to Wikipedia’s production tracking, the film’s status remains “in development” with a target year of 2028.

Multiple outlets list a concrete release date. Rotten Tomatoes and a separate report from Digital Trends both peg the theatrical release for February 18, 2028. However, some internal scheduling uncertainty persists.

• Film is officially in development (Wikipedia)
• Release date set broadly for 2028 (Rotten Tomatoes)
• Not canceled — confirmed by Warner Bros. (Los Angeles Times)

Why is Batman 2 delayed?

The delay stems from two overlapping pressures. First, Matt Reeves has reportedly been refining the script through multiple rewrites since 2023. According to Digital Trends, the film was originally targeting a 2025 window, then pushed to 2027, and now sits at 2028.

Second, the wider DC Universe restructuring under James Gunn and Peter Safran created uncertainty about how Reeves’s standalone saga fits into the broader slate. Unlike Marvel’s interconnected approach, Warner Bros. is reportedly allowing Reeves to finish his story without pressure to tie into other DC films — but that independence came at the cost of speed.

What caused the delay?

• Script rewrites — Reeves refining the story (Digital Trends)
• No back-to-back filming planned with Part 3
• DC Studios reboot affecting scheduling priorities (Los Angeles Times)

The catch: delaying a sequel can erode momentum. The Batman earned $772 million worldwide in 2022 (Wikipedia). A six-year gap between installments tests audience patience, especially when competing superhero franchises launch sequels within three years.

Impact of DC Studios reboot

James Gunn and Peter Safran took over DC Studios in late 2022 and quickly announced their own “Chapter One: Gods and Monsters” slate. Reeves’s Batman was described as a “DC Elseworlds” project — meaning it exists outside the main continuity but is still supported. The Los Angeles Times reported that the reboot added complexity to scheduling, as Warner Bros. balanced Reeves’s film against new Batman projects from Gunn’s team.

Who is the villain in Batman 2?

As of now, the central villain of The Batman Part II has not been officially confirmed. 3DVF reports that the main antagonist remains a mystery even as the full cast listing circulates. This uncertainty has made the villain question one of the most debated in DC fandom.

Rumored villains

• Court of Owls — speculated by fans due to the first film’s hidden-power-structure themes (Los Angeles Times)
• Hush — a classic Batman rogue tied to Bruce Wayne’s personal history (Los Angeles Times)
• Two-Face / Harvey Dent — Sebastian Stan reportedly cast as Harvey Dent (Los Angeles Times)

Confirmed details

No official villain announcement has been made by Warner Bros. or Matt Reeves. The strongest circumstantial evidence points to Harvey Dent: The Los Angeles Times notes that Sebastian Stan “may portray” the character who becomes Two-Face.

Who is Scarlett Johansson playing in Batman 2?

The Scarlett Johansson casting has been one of the sequel’s most perplexing threads. Entertainment Weekly reported in May 2026 that Johansson was among the castings connected to the sequel. However, Warner Bros. has not officially confirmed her involvement.

Is Scarlett Johansson confirmed?

She is listed on IMDb’s cast page for The Batman: Part II (IMDb), but IMDb’s user-editable nature reduces the authority of that listing. A separate report from Radio Times lists her role as Gilda Dent, the wife of Harvey Dent. That role would place her at the center of the story if Two-Face’s origin is indeed a plot thread.

What role might she play?

• Gilda Dent — reported by Radio Times (Radio Times)
• Talia al Ghul — fan speculation without sourcing
• New character — possible but unnamed

The implication: if Johansson is Gilda Dent, the sequel is almost certainly telling the Harvey Dent tragedy — positioning Two-Face either as the villain or as a character whose fall drives the plot.

Who will be the Joker in Batman 2?

Barry Keoghan made a brief but memorable appearance as the Joker in The Batman (2022). The deleted scene that was later released showed a disfigured man in Arkham Asylum who seemed to have a prior relationship with Batman. Whether he returns for Part II remains an open question.

Will Barry Keoghan return?

The Los Angeles Times reported in July 2026 that Keoghan was “reportedly likely to return” as the Joker. That language — “reportedly likely” — reflects medium confidence at best. Keoghan himself has neither confirmed nor denied his involvement in interviews.

New Joker actor?

There has been no credible reporting suggesting a recast. If Keoghan does not return, the Joker’s role in the sequel would likely be minimal or cut entirely. However, Reeves’s first film set up the Joker as a looming presence in Arkham, and leaving that thread unresolved would feel uncharacteristic for a director who built the first movie on carefully layered plotting.

• Barry Keoghan played Joker in The Batman (2022) (IMDb)
• No official confirmation of return (Los Angeles Times)
• Joker’s role in sequel unknown

The Batman Part II timeline

Tracking how the sequel moved from announcement to its current 2028 target reveals a pattern of deliberate pacing rather than crisis.

• March 2022 — The Batman released in theaters (Wikipedia)
• April 2022 — Sequel officially announced by Warner Bros. (Wikipedia)
• 2023 — Script development begins (Digital Trends)
• 2024 — Pre-production reports; casting rumors emerge (Digital Trends)
• 2025 — Production delay reported; Scarlett Johansson casting rumors (Entertainment Weekly)
• February 18, 2028 — Scheduled release date (Rotten Tomatoes)

The implication: the timeline shows consistent reworking, not crisis. Each shift reflects creative ambition rather than production collapse.

Confirmed facts and what’s unclear

What this means: the number of certainties is small, but each one is solid. The uncertainties are the story’s engine — once they resolve, the sequel’s shape will become clear.

Key quotes and perspectives

“The Batman Part II is being treated as a major priority by Warner Bros., but it’s operating on Matt Reeves’s timeline, not the studio’s.”

— Industry analyst, Digital Trends

“If Sebastian Stan is indeed Harvey Dent, then the sequel is likely a two-face origin story disguised as a Batman mystery.”

— Film commentator, Los Angeles Times

Frequently asked questions

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For Warner Bros., the delay is a trade-off: a better script at the cost of a six-year gap. For fans, the question is whether the wait will be rewarded with a sequel that deepens the world of the first film, or whether the excitement will peak before the movie ever arrives. For Matt Reeves, the weight of expectation is clear: deliver a story that justifies the patience — or risk losing the moment the first film built.