Sebastian Stan appears to be doubling down on the superhero movie business, but if the latest casting rumors are true, he’ll be taking his next swing far outside Marvel territory. On Tuesday, Deadline reported that Stan was in talks to join “The Batman: Part II,” the long-awaited sequel from Warner Bros. — expected to hit theaters by late 2027. The Golden Globe winner would reportedly play an undisclosed role opposite Robert Pattinson’s rain-soaked, emo-coded Dark Knight. Representatives for Stan and DC Studios did not immediately respond to IndieWire’s request for comment.
Director Matt Reeves launched his take on the Batverse in 2022 with the blockbuster success of the original “The Batman,” which grossed $772.2 million worldwide. He then expanded Gotham’s reach and its awards potential with HBO’s Emmy-winning spinoff “The Penguin,” which streamed in late 2024. Starring Collin Farrell, once again as Gotham mob boss Oz Cobb, the TV series pushed deeper into the city’s seedy criminal infrastructure and unearthed a shadowy world full of twisted storytelling potential.
Despite repeated delays on the film side, Reeves’ corner of the DC universe (which exists in parallel to James Gunn’s DCEU) remains one of Hollywood’s most exciting action landscapes. Stan has plenty of comic-book bona fides thanks to his Avengers tenure, but the Batverse is also a realm of intense prosthetics, over-the-top voices, and enough moral rot to mutate almost any familiar face. Stan could play anyone in “The Batman: Part 2,” and with plenty of waiting to do between now and the movie’s debut, not knowing who — or what — he could be is half the appeal.
The timing of this latest news only adds fuel to “The Batman” fervor in a year where we won’t get a new movie. Stan is coming off a particularly strong awards-season run, and in December, rumors surfaced that his Avengers’ co-star Scarlett Johansson was also circling a role for Reeves. Whether those whispers materialize or not, Gotham suddenly feels open for business… even if ticket sales aren’t.
Here’s everything we know about “The Batman: Part 2,” so far.
When Will Matt Reeves’ “The Batman” Universe Return?
“The Batman” sequel was officially announced in April 2022, shortly after the first movie’s premiere. Originally slated for a 2025 debut, “The Batman: Part 2” has since been pushed to fall 2027. That delay reflects both industry-wide slowdowns — and Reeves’ famously meticulous approach to development.
At the 2025 Emmys, Reeves confirmed to Variety that filming was expected to begin in late April or early May of 2026. “It’s been a long journey,” he said, adding that he was “incredibly excited” about the script he co-wrote with Mattson Tomlin. Pre-production is now officially underway, with the shoot set to take place in Glasgow and Liverpool after previous scheduling shifts.
Reeves is also returning with a slightly reshuffled creative team. He’s still under an exclusive deal with Warner Bros., but the sequel will see Luke Hull step in as production designer and Erik Messerschmidt taking up the mantle of cinematographer.
Paul Dano in “The Batman” (2022)©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection
Who’s Coming Back to Gotham… and Who Isn’t?
Pattinson remains the anchor of Reeves’ Batverse, but not every popular character from “The Batman” will return. Zoë Kravitz, who played Selina Kyle (aka Catwoman) in the first film, is no longer attached to the sequel. That’s a notable shift for the franchise, but several other key players will appear.
Jeffrey Wright will reprise his part as Commissioner Gordon (or is it Chief Gordon now?), and Andy Serkis is back as the trusty Alfred. Both will be essential characters as Reeves steers his story further into the psychology of Bruce Wayne. But Barry Keoghan, whose brief appearance as The Joker got major buzz following the final moments of “The Batman,” also hints at a much larger future for the caped crusader himself. Paul Dano will also reappear as The Riddler.
“The Batman” cast returns matter because Reeves’ Gotham isn’t built around one-off villain arcs. His take is a slow-burn mystery structure around carefully scaffolded consequences, political power vacuums, and institutional decay everyone can recognize. But Selina Kyle’s absence may also widen the narrative runway for Reeves, opening space for new characters and actors to help shape his vision.
HBO’s “The Penguin” Is Still Essential Viewing
Jumping between film and TV hasn’t always done the Marvel Cinematic Universe much good, but “The Penguin” is the linchpin in Reeves’ Batverse. The HBO series picked up just weeks after the events of “The Batman,” zooming in on the wreckage left behind in an urban ecosystem already under too much strain. It’s less a side story than a narrative bridge, designed to do heavy lifting before the sequel starts.
Reeves and Farrell confirmed at last year’s San Diego Comic-Con that the actor would return as Oz Cobb in “The Batman: Part 2,” albeit in a significantly smaller capacity. For his part, Farrell has been openly enthusiastic about his Batverse arc and staying involved in Reeves’ vision.
Colin Farrell in “The Batman” (2022) ©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection
Notably absent from the next film (at least for now) is Cristin Milioti, whose turn as Sofia Falcone earned major awards recognition and a groundswell of fan support. While Milioti is not expected in the 2027 movie, “The Penguin” star has expressed strong interest in returning to Reeves’ Gotham. With the films being developed as a trilogy, that door remains very much open for her.
Who Else Might Join “The Batman: Part 2” Cast?
Stan isn’t the only name floating around Gotham. Johansson’s rumored involvement remains unconfirmed, and there’s more speculation ranging from a part for Tobias Menzies (possibly set to play Amadeus Arkham) to the pipe-dream casting of Brad Pitt (in a nondescript role that won’t happen.)
Still, Reeves’ track record suggests that any new additions will be chosen less for star power than for their ability to disappear into his particular shade of Batman-driven justice and despair. For now, Stan’s potential entry is more than enough to keep the Bat Signal — and audiences imaginations — brightly lit.