The Batman is an upcoming American superhero film based on the DC Comics character of the same name. Produced by DC Films and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, it is a reboot of the Batman film franchise. The film is directed by Matt Reeves, who wrote the screenplay with Peter Craig. It stars Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne / Batman, with Zoë Kravitz, Paul Dano, Jeffrey Wright, John Turturro, Peter Sarsgaard, Barry Keoghan, Jayme Lawson, Andy Serkis, and Colin Farrell rounding out the ensemble cast. The Batman is set during Batman's second year of fighting crime and follows him as he explores Gotham City's corruption and faces the Riddler, a riddle-obsessed serial killer.
After he was cast as Batman in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Ben Affleck began developing a DC Extended Universe (DCEU) Batman film with Geoff Johns, and was attached to direct, write, produce, and star. In January 2017, Affleck stepped down from directing and writing after struggling with the story and so he could focus on playing Batman. Reeves took over directorial and scripting duties the following month and reworked the story to focus on a younger Batman, hoping to emphasize the detective aspect of the character to a greater extent than previous films. Affleck stepped down from all involvement in January 2019, and Pattinson was cast the following May. The film's connections to the DCEU were subsequently eliminated. Principal photography began in London, England in January 2020 but was suspended in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Production resumed in early September, but was halted again a few days later after Pattinson tested positive for COVID-19 and resumed after two weeks with Pattinson safely returning.
The Batman is scheduled to be released in the United States on March 4, 2022. Its release was delayed twice from an initial June 2021 date due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Two sequels are planned, while a spin-off prequel television series is in development for HBO Max.