Summary
- James Gunn dismisses rumors about Hush and Clayface being in The Batman: Part II, stating it is simply not true.
- The Batman: Part II will not be part of the new DCU canon, but will be produced by DC Studios.
- The Penguin series will bridge the gap between The Batman and its sequel, expanding on the underworld of Gotham.
DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn has directly addressed recent rumors about acclaimed comic book villains like Hush and Clayface being part of The Batman: Part II, the long-awaited sequel to the 2022 film starring Robert Pattinson as the caped crusader.
Although there is still a long way to go before the Twilight star suits up as the hero of Gotham City again, theories about his next adventures are constantly popping up on social media, especially when an “insider” shares information about the film. A list of the sequel’s supposed villains was recently “leaked” by Daniel Richtman, known as Daniel RPK, which included names like Professor Pyg, Scarecrow, Clayface and Hush, as well as the appearance of Dick Grayson. However, it seems that none of that is true according to someone who really should know.
Through Threads, James Gunn responded to a user who shared the news, confirming that it was just a rumor and that it was not real information:
Although The Batman: Part II will not be part of the new DCU canon, something that Matt Reeves himself requested, it will be produced by DC Studios, so both Gunn and Peter Safran will participate in the project in some way. Gunn recently noted that he has yet to see a script for the movie, but has spoken to Reeves about the direction he is taking The Batman next.
What to Expect from The Batman: Part II
In the first installment, Pattinson’s Batman is fairly new to his role as the masked vigilante of Gotham City. This makes him a very different Batman to previous movie versions, who have usually been depicted as older and more established variations of Bruce Wayne. The first movie establishes the rules of this new universe, allowing Pattinson’s Dark Knight to learn lessons about who he has to become in order to be the hero the city needs. However, it is clear that the world of Batman is rarely without consequences, and the fallout from the death of John Turturro’s Carmine Falcone and the chaos created by Paul Dano’s Riddler will flow into other projects such as Max series The Penguin.
Next year, with the premiere of The Penguin, the universe created by Reeves will expand to show much more of what happens on the margins of Gotham, in that underworld dominated by criminals and the mafia, with the character of Oswald Cobblepot rising to power in Falcone’s absence. Played once again by Colin Farrell, Penguin will have to face-off with others who seek to take control of Falcone’s empire. The series will act as a bridge between The Batman and its sequel, but whether Pattinson will make an appearance is just one of the mysteries surrounding the show.
The Batman: Part II is set to hit theaters on October 3rd, 2025, while The Penguin will debut on Max sometime late in 2024.
