Warner Bros. Pictures revealed a significant shift in its release calendar, notably delaying the sequel, “The Batman 2.” Originally slated for release on October 3, 2025, the film will now hit theaters and IMAX screens on October 2, 2026, marking a nearly one-year postponement.
The decision to push back the release date is reportedly attributed to the aftermath of dual strikes and aims to provide sufficient spacing from other major DC Comics adaptations. Notably, James Gunn’s “Superman,” set to premiere on July 11, 2025, will launch the new phase titled “Gods and Monsters” for DC Studios.
While “The Batman 2” is not directly connected to Gunn’s universe, the announcement coincides with plans for another Batman installment, “Batman: Brave and the Bold,” directed by Andy Muschietti. The role of Batman, portrayed by Robert Pattinson in Matt Reeves’ universe, is set to be recast for Muschietti’s film.
The original “The Batman,” released two years ago, garnered significant success, grossing over $772 million worldwide and becoming a streaming hit on the Warner Bros Discovery platform Max.
Filling the void left by “The Batman 2,” Maggie Gyllenhaal’s directorial debut, “The Bride!,” is set to open on October 3, 2025. The film features a star-studded cast including Christian Bale, Jesse Buckley, Peter Sarsgaard, Annette Bening, and Penelope Cruz. Gyllenhaal, along with producers Emma Tillinger Koskoff, Talia Kleinhendler, and Osnat Handelsman-Keren, brings a fresh take on the Frankenstein narrative.
In addition to these changes, Paul Thomas Anderson’s untitled event film, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor, Wood Harris, Alana Haim, and Chase Infiniti, is scheduled for an IMAX release on August 8, 2025. Meanwhile, Barry Levinson’s mobster movie “Alto Knights,” featuring Robert De Niro, has been rescheduled from November 15, 2024, to March 21, 2025.
Warner Bros. assures fans that despite the delay, “The Batman 2” remains a highly anticipated installment in the franchise, promising to take audiences back to Gotham with a compelling narrative. The studio also emphasizes that the spinoff TV series, “The Penguin,” centered around Colin Farrell’s character from the 2022 film, is still on track for a late 2024 release on Max.