How 'The Batman Part II' Will Connect to Max's 'The Penguin'

The Batman (2022) was a fresh take on the DC vigilante hero, focusing on the grittier side of Batman and Gotham City. It featured Robert Pattinson as the title character, in one of his broodiest performances yet, and Zoë Kravitz as Selina Kyle (aka Catwoman).

Related: 75 Essential Batman Quotes From Comics, TV and Film, Because We All Wear Masks

The film did big numbers at the box office, and its sequel, The Batman Part II, has been confirmed since April 2022. Here’s what we know about Part II, including which actors are returning and when it’ll be in theaters.

Will there be a sequel to The Batman?

Yes! A sequel to 2022's The Batman is in the works and was confirmed at ComicCon the same year the original was released. It has since been given a release date.

What is the release date for The Batman Part II?

The Batman Part II was originally slated to premiere on Oct. 3, 2025. However, in a March 2024 update, it was revealed the premiere will be delayed about a year, with a new release date of Oct. 2, 2026. The delay is not so unusual when you consider how many Hollywood projects have suffered the same, or been canceled entirely, following the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.

IMDB lists the film’s status as “pre-production,” and while the script is finished it will not begin filming until 2025.

Will Robert Pattinson be in The Batman Part II?

We don’t know much of anything about the plot of The Batman Part II; but we do know that Robert Pattinson will be reprising his leading role as Batman/Bruce Wayne. He was the first member of the confirmed cast for the sequel, so fans need not worry. Pattinson and his chiseled jaw will be seen in the batsuit again.

Will Zoë Kravitz be in The Batman Part II?

So far, it has not been confirmed if Zoë Kravitz will reprise her role as Selina Kyle/Catwoman. While it’s a definite possibility, the sequel could take a new direction and give Pattinson’s Batman a different love interest.

The Batman Part II cast

Aside from Pattinson, there are a few other cast members slated to return. The current cast includes:

Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne/Batman

Colin Farrell as Oz Cobb/Penguin

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Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth

Jeffrey Wright as James Gordon

It’s also possible that Barry Keoghan, who appeared as the Joker in the final moments of The Batman (2022), will have a larger role in the sequel—but that’s mostly speculation, as nothing on the plot or potential villains has been confirmed yet.

Related: 150 Joker Quotes To Make You Appreciate the Madness and Put a Smile on That Face 

Who is the director of The Batman Part II?

Matt Reeves is returning as the director of The Batman Part II. Aside from 2022’s The Batman, he is known for directing Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014), its 2017 sequel The War for the Planet of the Apes, the 2010 horror flick Let Me In and 2008’s Cloverfield.

Reeves also has an executive producer credit on The Penguin, a 2024 TV series based on events from The Batman.

Is The Penguin based on The Batman movie?

The Penguin, a 2024 HBO miniseries, premiered on Sept. 19 and is already a hit with critics. It follows iconic Batman villain Oswald Cobb (aka the Penguin), played by Colin Farrell, as he tries to take over Gotham and its seedy underbelly.

The series is based on the events of 2022’s The Batman, and it kicks off right where the movie left us: The Riddler has flooded Gotham City, sowing mayhem that the Penguin wants his own piece of. What follows is a psychological drama with crime families and betrayals that channels The Sopranos as much as the DC source material.

In a recent discussion with Matt Reeves (director of The Batman) and Dylan Clark (producer), it was revealed events in The Penguin will take place before the plot of The Batman Part II. Clark said, "From our movie [The Batman], you don't get a sense of how this character is going to become the kingpin...when he comes back into Movie Two, he's not the same character that Batman interacted with."

Is there a trailer for The Batman Part II?

There’s no trailer yet for The Batman Part II as the film is still in pre-production and has not begun filming. Since it’s slated for an October 2026 release, we likely won’t see a trailer until sometime in 2026.

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According to a few different sources, trailers are often released four to five months before the actual movie comes out—which could point to a May or June 2026 timeline for The Batman Part II trailer.

How to watch The Batman Part II

Fans can see The Batman Part II in theaters on Oct. 2, 2026. If it’s anything like its predecessor The Batman, it could stay exclusively in theaters for about 45 days before becoming available to stream on Max.

Is The Batman part of a trilogy?

While a third film in The Batman franchise has not been greenlit, director Matt Reeves has said he'd like the saga to include three movies.

Will there be a The Batman Part III?

Perhaps. If the second movie does well at the box office, it seems likely we'll see a third film in The Batman franchise.

Next, We Ranked Every Batman Movie, From The Dark Knight to The Batman