James Gunn swiftly put an end to swirling rumors about rushing ‘The Batman – Part 3’ into production. Fans had speculated that the DC Studios co-CEO wanted to wrap up Matt Reeves’ gritty Batman trilogy with Robert Pattinson before launching the new project, ‘The Brave and the Bold’. Instead, James Gunn made it clear that no such plans exist.
Origin of the speculation
The chatter started with industry insider @DanielRPK on X, who claimed sources told him Gunn aimed to fast-track Part 3. This move, per the report, would avoid overlap between Pattinson’s standalone “Elseworlds” Batman saga and the DCU’s fresh take on Batman and Robin. Such a clash could confuse audiences, especially with both projects featuring the iconic hero. The rumor gained traction amid ongoing updates on ‘The Batman – Part 2’ which remains in pre-production.James Gunn’s firm denial unn addressed the buzz directly on Threads, his preferred platform for debunking DC chatter. “I don’t know what that is, but I’m not fast tracking anything other than our scripts, currently getting ready to go into production,” he posted, as reported by Female First UK.When a fan referenced @DanielRPK’s specific claim, Gunn doubled down. “That’s incorrect. Well I mean I don’t know if it’s incorrect that DPK was told that, but the information is incorrect,” he clarified on the same platform. These quotes, first highlighted by Female First UK, underscore Gunn’s straightforward style in managing expectations.
Where ‘The Batman’ Saga stands now
‘The Batman – Part 2’ kicks off principal photography on January 1, 2026, at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden in London. Directed by Matt Reeves, it stars Pattinson and is set for October 1, 2027, release. Colin Farrell returns as The Penguin in a reduced role, but raved about the script to The Hollywood Reporter. “I’ve got an even smaller role in this one. But I’m OK with that. I’ve read the script, from start to finish, and I can’t say much about it. But it’s deeper, scarier, the stakes are bigger. I’m really excited to see it,” Farrell shared.Reeves’ vision is a ‘Batman Epic Crime Saga’ trilogy, but Part 3 lacks a greenlight beyond early scripting. Meanwhile, The Brave and the Bold eyes a post-2028 slot, ensuring no yearly Batman duel, as Gunn has pledged before.
