Robert Pattinson Rules Out Batman Joining DC Universe, Says Matt Reeves Is Too Specific

Actor Robert Pattinson has openly dismissed the possibility that the Batman he plays will join the wider DC universe. According to him, director Matt Reeves' approach to the character of Bruce Wayne is too specific to be mixed with other superhero properties such as Superman.

Pattinson, now 40 years old, will reprise his role as the Caped Crusader in The Batman Part II. He considers the world Reeves has built to have its own style and nuance that is difficult to separate from its original context. "I think it would be hard to put this version of Bruce outside of Matt's world," he told LADBible, as quoted from an exclusive interview.

The statement reinforces The Batman's position as a standalone project under Warner Bros., separate from the main DC Studios universe now led by James Gunn and Peter Safran. The decision to maintain this creative autonomy could be a long-term strategy, though on the other hand it risks limiting the crossover potential that is usually the main draw of comic book films.

The experience of filming the first movie in 2022 left a deep impression on Pattinson. He admitted he felt strange for some time after production wrapped because almost the entire shooting process was done in low-light conditions. "You're in darkness constantly, both in atmosphere and lighting. I couldn't see anything for months. It affects you, makes you feel strange afterwards," he recalled.

For the sequel, Pattinson described the approach taken this time as a "sharp turn" from the first film. Nevertheless, he stressed that the distinctive elements that made The Batman well received by critics and audiences have been retained. "It's very ambitious. I think the first film was a different interpretation of Batman, and this one is too. But this is really a new direction," he told Collider.

"I really felt my age when I had to do a lot of action scenes. This is clearly much heavier than before. But it's still fun, and I'm sure the film will be good. The cast is very entertaining, but the process is like a marathon," Pattinson told GQ India.

Pattinson is currently in London to finish filming the sequel until the end of the year. He acknowledged that the action scenes now feel more physically challenging than a few years ago, but he remains enthusiastic about the final result.

The delay to the release schedule of The Batman Part II drew criticism from some fans. However, James Gunn as co-head of DC Studios defended the decision by comparing long gaps in other franchises. "A five-year or more gap is actually normal for sequels. Alien to Aliens took 7 years, Incredibles 14 years, Terminator 7 years, Avatar 13 years, Top Gun 36 years, and Guardians of the Galaxy 6 years," he wrote on Threads.

For the global film industry, the decision to maintain Matt Reeves' singular vision could set a precedent that superhero franchises do not always have to be connected in one big universe. This approach is similar to DC's strategy when it released the film Joker outside the main canon. In Indonesia, this delay affects the screening schedules of national cinemas, which usually rely on big Hollywood films as the main driver of ticket sales. Domestic cinema industry players may need to adjust their promotion and scheduling strategies throughout 2027 until early 2028.

With the release still two years away, the question now is whether Pattinson will stay on until the next sequel or instead leave the franchise after his contract ends. What is clear is that he stressed that as long as Matt Reeves remains in creative control, his version of Batman will remain exclusive and will not be greeting the Justice League any time soon.