Andy Serkis Hasn’t Filmed a Single Alfred Scene Yet as ‘The Batman Part II’ Shoot Stretches Into the New Year

Few actors have had a busier year than Andy Serkis, and fitting in his return as Alfred Pennyworth in ‘The Batman Part II’ has been tricky from the start. He has been splitting his time between Middle-earth and Gotham City, and he has also been promoting his new memoir “My Pressures: The Bizarrely True Story of Andy Serkis.”

Fans knew early on that Alfred would be late getting to set. Back in April, Serkis said he was confident the scheduling conflict would be resolved. He also told Screen Rant that he “won’t be joining them immediately, but by the end of the year, I will be.” He was expected to start shooting his scenes by the end of 2026, after filming ‘The Hunt for Gollum’.

That timeline has now moved. Speaking on The Chris Evans Show, Serkis said filming has been extended beyond Christmas and into the new year. He explained that he has not yet shot his scenes as Alfred for this sequel, and that his work is set to begin immediately after the holiday.

It’s a small update, but it shows how long Matt Reeves’ sequel is taking to make. Serkis’ comments confirm that the production is running longer than many had expected. Online reactions were split. Some fans noted Serkis still has not shot a frame of Alfred, while others pointed to the first film’s long shoot and accepted the extra time.

Andy Serkis confirms filming on ‘THE BATMAN: PART 2’ has been extended past Christmas and into the new year. “I have yet to portray Alfred in this one, because filming has been extended. So, immediately after Christmas we’ll be going.” (The Chris Evans Show) https://t.co/YCyQ78tscO

— DC Film News (@DCFilmNews) November 14, 2026

The Gotham shoot has had a bumpy 2026. On October 5, Warner Bros. and DC Studios confirmed that production had been temporarily paused so co-writer and director Matt Reeves could focus on a private family matter.

Help came from a well-known name. Steven Soderbergh stepped in to help complete the final weeks of principal photography while Reeves took time away. Reeves quickly addressed speculation about his future. He said publicly that he is not leaving the film and will return to oversee post-production.

First look at Robert Pattinson as Batman in ‘The Batman Part 2’ https://t.co/IF94iZAYd0

— DiscussingPulse (@DiscussingPulse) July 16, 2026

Robert Pattinson has since confirmed the cameras are rolling again. Speaking to GamesRadar+, he said he was pleased that Soderbergh had joined the production to help Reeves bring the film closer to completion.

Fans have been waiting a long time. The sequel was originally supposed to open Oct. 2, 2026, before Warner Bros. delayed it to Oct. 1, 2027. In July, Reeves announced the new release date on Vimeo and also shared the first camera test footage of Pattinson back in the Batsuit.

The film is now set for February 18, 2028, nearly six years after the March 2022 opening of ‘The Batman’. Despite the recent disruptions, the production pause has not resulted in an announced change to that date. With Alfred’s scenes now pushed into the new year, though, many fans will keep a close eye on the schedule.

Vengeance equals justice for both the Bat and the Cat. Watch the new trailer for The Batman now. Only in theaters March 4. #TheBatman https://t.co/lEs00GJZtT

— Warner Bros. (@warnerbros) December 27, 2021

Plot details are still mostly secret. Robert Pattinson stars as Bruce Wayne / Batman alongside Jeffrey Wright, Andy Serkis, Colin Farrell, Sebastian Stan, Scarlett Johansson, and Charles Dance. Set during the winter, Batman investigates further corruption after the flooding of Gotham City.

Serkis has also hinted at where Alfred’s relationship with Bruce is heading. He has described the pair as still somewhat at odds but closer than before. Earlier, he said the story would show a different side to Pattinson’s hero. He called the story a continuation in some ways and completely different in others.

After the first film, where Alfred is hospitalized after opening a letter bomb addressed to Bruce, fans are eager to see how the bond between Bruce and his butler has changed. For now, they’ll have to wait until after the holidays for Serkis to put the suit and waistcoat back on.

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