Patrick Schwarzenegger Responds to ‘The Batman – Part II’ Winter Setting, Fuels Rumors About Playing Mr. Freeze

Matt Reeves’ The Batman was a major success, and although it was always meant to be part of a separate continuity from the main DCEU, James Gunn’s leadership and the creation of the new DCU appear to have had a notable impact on the series, though this has not been officially confirmed.

Despite these changes, Reeves is continuing to develop his trilogy for Warner Bros. He recently confirmed that the sequel, The Batman: Part II, is still on track for its planned release in October 2025.

Despite some delays caused by industry strikes, production updates continued to surface, including the return of key cast and crew members. However, it was ultimately announced that the project would be delayed by a full year, now scheduled for release on October 2, 2026.

Matt Reeves also clarified the setting of the upcoming sequel and its connection to The Penguin series. He revealed that the sequel will be set during winter and will occur shortly after the events of the show.

The winter setting has led many to speculate that Mr. Freeze might be the sequel’s antagonist. Arnold Schwarzenegger famously portrayed Mr. Freeze in Batman & Robin (June 20, 1997), a film directed by Joel Schumacher known for its vibrant and campy take on the Batman franchise. Schwarzenegger’s performance was marked by exaggerated ice-related puns and is often cited as one of the less successful portrayals in live-action Batman adaptations. However, it has garnered a certain nostalgic affection from fans over the years.

In response to the news, Patrick Schwarzenegger, an actor in his own right, playfully shared an image of the blue-themed The Batman logo with the caption “The Iceman cometh.”

Fans quickly speculated whether the actor would be taking over the role from his father, but the Gen V star was swift to dismiss any such rumors.

The situation becomes even more amusing considering that we recently reported how Schwarzenegger pays WB $1 a year just to keep his Mr. Freeze costume.

While many fans are eager to see this iconic villain back on screen, it’s highly unlikely. Matt Reeves has made it clear that he will not steer The Batman franchise towards such fantastical elements, as his vision for the universe remains grounded.

Based on the director’s statements, we’ve already speculated about potential villains for the sequel, with the Court of Owls being one of the most likely candidates.

Got any thoughts? Share them in the comments below!