‘The Batman’ Trilogy Is in Limbo After James Gunn and Peter Safran Exit DC Studios

Few superhero franchises have tested fan patience quite like ‘The Batman‘ trilogy. Matt Reeves’ moody take on the Dark Knight arrived in 2022, and the road to its follow-up has been paved with delays. Robert Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne has become a symbol of the long wait.

‘The Batman Part II’ was first scheduled for Oct. 2, 2026, then moved to Oct. 1, 2027, before Reeves announced in July that it would arrive on Feb. 18, 2028. He paired the news with a camera test of Pattinson in the suit, and cameras began rolling in June. Reeves wrote the script with Mattson Tomlin, and newcomers include Sebastian Stan as Harvey Dent, Scarlett Johansson as Gilda and Charles Dance as Charles.

Then the bigger news landed on Monday, Nov. 9. Gunn and Safran are stepping down as co-CEOs and co-chairmen of DC Studios effective Dec. 1, with Marvel veteran Jeremy Latcham taking over as president and chief creative officer. The shakeup comes after Skydance, led by David Ellison, took over Warner Bros.

That has reopened questions about the future of Reeves’ Batman trilogy, since the planned three-film story now sits under a brand-new leadership structure at both DC Studios and its parent company. Fans noticed immediately, flooding social media with pleas like “BATTINSON STAY WITH ME” and hoping a strong box office showing keeps the saga alive through the studio transition.

So far, no one has announced that anything is canceled. ‘The Batman Part II’ is still dated for Feb. 18, 2028, and Gunn and Safran remain attached as producers on it. Reeves’ films also fall under the Elseworlds banner, which keeps them separate from the rebooted DC universe that Gunn and Safran built.

The trilogy itself was never fully locked in on paper. Reeves said in 2024 that making three films was still the plan, but ‘The Batman Part III’ has never been officially announced. Gunn denied rumors that Parts II and III would shoot back-to-back, and he separately denied reports of fast-tracking Part III earlier this year.

There is also a wrinkle on Reeves’ side. One report notes that he has another directing project lined up, and it is not a third Batman film. None of the early coverage of the DC leadership change spells out what Latcham’s arrival means for Reeves’ corner of the franchise.

Latcham joined Marvel Studios in 2004 and rose to senior vice president of production and development, working closely with Kevin Feige on the early days of the MCU. His credits include ‘Iron Man,’ ‘The Avengers,’ ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ and ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming.’ He will lead DC’s film, television and animation slate, overseeing the creative pipeline along with production, talent and strategy.

Latcham will report to Skydance Motion Picture Group co-chairs Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein. Skydance’s leadership has praised Gunn and Safran for launching a new era for DC, while outlets such as Variety note that the four-year run produced mixed commercial results.

Their tenure included ‘Superman,’ ‘Peacemaker’ Season 2, ‘Creature Commandos,’ ‘Clayface’ and ‘Lanterns.’ Gunn is returning to creative work, directing ‘Man of Tomorrow,’ the ‘Superman’ sequel that Safran will produce. The pair will also produce the upcoming series ‘The People vs. Gorilla Grodd.’

Gunn said in his farewell statement that his time at DC Studios was trying, even as he credited the team with putting Superman back at the heart of DC. It is a bittersweet send-off for an era that lasted only four years, and one that still has ‘Man of Tomorrow’ on the horizon.

The wait for Pattinson’s final Batman chapter was already long enough that the actor joked he could be much older by the time the trilogy wraps. He has also floated retiring from acting after it ends, though he has announced no firm plans. With a new boss arriving at DC, the question is whether the third film will ever get its green light.

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