James Gunn Defends Matt Reeves, Says Fans Should Get Off His Nuts: “He Doesn’t Owe You Anything”

James Gunn wants fans to relax when it comes to Matt Reeves and his Batman sequel. While speaking recently, Gunn made it clear that people need to stop bothering Reeves online and let him work in peace.

“People should get off Matt’s nuts because it’s like, let the guy write the screenplay in the amount of time he needs to write it,” Gunn said. “He doesn’t owe you something because you like his movie. I mean, you like his movie because of Matt. So let Matt do things the way he does.”

Gunn confirmed that a script for The Batman Part II is expected soon, possibly this month. He said he and Reeves are in regular contact and that Reeves is excited about the project. However, no one has read the script yet.

The sequel was first announced in April 2022 at CinemaCon, with Robert Pattinson returning as Batman and Matt Reeves back in the director’s chair.

By August of that year, Mattson Tomlin was also confirmed as co-writer. The film was originally titled The Batman – Part II in early 2023, but by the end of 2024, it was no longer using that name publicly, as Reeves was still working on the script. The movie is now expected to begin filming at the end of 2025 and is scheduled for release on October 1, 2027. Other returning cast members include Jeffrey Wright as Jim Gordon, Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth, and Colin Farrell as the Penguin.

Despite fans asking for updates constantly, Gunn believes Reeves is staying focused. “I don’t think Matt really pays attention to that stuff so much,” Gunn said. “He’s got a lot of other things happening, so I don’t think he lets it affect him. He’s fine.”

Gunn also explained that quality is the top priority, not rushing things. “It’s going to come out when he feels good about the screenplay,” Gunn said. “And Matt’s not going to give me the screenplay until he feels good about the screenplay.”

When asked how Reeves’ Batman series fits into the bigger picture of the DC universe, Gunn clarified that these kinds of stories exist under the “Elseworlds” label, separate from the main DCU timeline. He said there’s room for different kinds of storytelling, and that Reeves’ work stands out because of his vision and talent. “When it’s somebody who’s important, like Matt Reeves… then you have to stand up and listen,” Gunn said.

Still, even for Elseworlds projects, the script has to be great. Gunn gave an example: “I told it to one person who came in and pitched something that was an Elseworlds tale… If it’s a masterpiece, I’ll make it, but it has to be a masterpiece.” Gunn laughed, saying the actor pitching the idea got nervous and is still working on it.

At the end of the day, Gunn says fans just need to chill out and trust the process. Reeves is going to deliver the story on his own terms, and that’s the way it should be.

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