Cameras Roll on 'The Batman Part II' as Matt Reeves Shares First Shot

After years of delays, 'The Batman Part II' is finally shooting. Writer-director Matt Reeves confirmed the start of principal photography on Friday, June 12, sharing a photo from the set with a caption referencing the film's first shot and the simple message, 'Here We Go…'. For a sequel that has slipped repeatedly on the calendar, the announcement marked a tangible turning point — the moment a long-anticipated follow-up moved from development limbo into active production.

Robert Pattinson returns in the title role as Bruce Wayne, with the sequel slated to arrive in theatres on October 1, 2027. The production had previously been confirmed by Warner Bros. Discovery to begin in spring 2026, with filming based in the United Kingdom, a hub whose studio space and crew base have anchored many of the era's largest blockbusters.

A long road back to the set

The gap between the 2022 original and the start of this sequel has been unusually wide for a property of this stature, with the timeline shifting more than once. Reeves is known for a meticulous, writer-first approach, and the extended runway reflects both the scale of the production and the studio's determination to get the script right before committing to cameras. The 'First Shot' image functions as a public reset of expectations after that long wait.

Reeves marked the milestone with characteristic economy, letting a single image and a few words stand in for years of anticipation.

“First Shot. The Batman Part II. Here We Go…”

— Matt Reeves, on the start of production

What we know about the cast

Andy Serkis is set to reprise his role as Alfred, the loyal guardian of the Wayne household, while Colin Farrell is expected to return as Oswald Cobblepot, the gangster better known as The Penguin. Reports indicate, however, that Farrell's character is not the film's central villain, leaving the identity of the main antagonist a closely guarded mystery as Reeves keeps plot details under wraps.

• Robert Pattinson, returning as Bruce Wayne and Batman
• Andy Serkis, reprising the role of Alfred
• Colin Farrell, back as Oswald Cobblepot / The Penguin, though not the lead villain
• A central antagonist whose identity remains undisclosed

Why it matters for the DC slate

The 2022 original grossed more than $770 million worldwide, establishing Reeves and Pattinson's grounded, detective-driven take as one of the most distinctive interpretations of the character in recent memory. That commercial and critical footing makes the sequel one of the most anticipated entries on the wider DC calendar, even as the broader cinematic universe continues to be reshaped around it.

Notably, Reeves's Batman occupies its own corner of the DC landscape, separate from the central continuity being built elsewhere. That standalone status gives the filmmaker creative latitude but also raises questions about how the various strands of the studio's superhero output will coexist — a balancing act the industry will watch closely as the slate takes shape.

With production now underway and a release date locked more than a year out, attention will turn to casting confirmations, first looks and the eventual reveal of the antagonist. After a long stretch of stops and starts, the simple fact that cameras are rolling is the most concrete signal yet that Gotham's next chapter is finally on its way to the screen.

The NE Times View

A 2027 release for a sequel that only now begins shooting underscores how superhero filmmaking has slowed to a deliberate crawl after years of overproduction. The NE Times View: Reeves earned that patience with a first film that treated the genre as noir rather than spectacle. The bet worth watching is whether audiences, increasingly selective about comic-book fare, still reward craft over cadence.

This article is original commentary and analysis by The NE Times. Background facts were referenced from Just Jared, SuperHeroHype and Variety.