James Gunn Tells Fans to Back Off Matt Reeves: “He Doesn’t Owe You Anything”

The Batman Part II is moving forward, but director Matt Reeves is taking his time to get it right, and DC Studios co-head James Gunn wants fans to give him space. In a recent interview, Gunn addressed the online pressure Reeves faces from fans eager for updates on the sequel, urging them to let the filmmaker work without interference.

“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.”

The sequel to 2022’s The Batman was announced at CinemaCon in April 2022, with Robert Pattinson set to return as the Dark Knight and Reeves directing again. Mattson Tomlin is co-writing the script, which Gunn said is nearing completion, possibly this month.

No one has seen the script yet, as Reeves is keeping it under wraps until he’s satisfied. “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.”

Filming is slated to start by late 2025, with a release planned for October 1, 2027. Returning cast members include Jeffrey Wright as Jim Gordon, Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth, and Colin Farrell as the Penguin. While the film was initially called The Batman – Part II, it’s no longer referred to by that title publicly as Reeves continues refining the story.

Gunn emphasized that Reeves remains focused despite fan demands. “I don’t think Matt really pays attention to that stuff so much,” he said. “He’s got a lot of other things happening, so I don’t think he lets it affect him. He’s fine.” Gunn and Reeves stay in regular contact, and Reeves is reportedly excited about the project.

The Batman series exists under DC’s “Elseworlds” label, meaning it’s separate from the main DC Universe timeline. Gunn explained that this allows for unique storytelling. “When it’s somebody who’s important, like Matt Reeves… then you have to stand up and listen,” he said. However, even Elseworlds projects need exceptional scripts.

Gunn shared an example of an actor pitching an Elseworlds idea: “If it’s a masterpiece, I’ll make it, but it has to be a masterpiece,” he said, noting the actor is still working on their pitch.

Gunn’s message is clear: quality matters more than speed, and Reeves will deliver when he’s ready. Fans should trust his process and wait for a story worth telling.

I admire Gunn’s defense of Reeves’ creative freedom. Rushing a filmmaker like Reeves, who delivered such a grounded and gripping Batman, would only hurt the sequel’s potential.

The Elseworlds approach is a smart way to let unique visions shine while keeping the main DCU cohesive. I’m excited to see Pattinson’s Batman evolve, but I agree with Gunn, let Reeves do his thing. What do you think about the wait for The Batman Part II? Are you okay with Reeves taking his time, or do you want updates sooner? Share your thoughts in the comments below!