Colin Farrell Says The Batman 2 Will Crown Robert Pattinson The Definitive Dark Knight

Colin Farrell just lit a flare over The Batman Part II. While chatting with Josh Horowitz on the Happy Sad Confused podcast to plug his Netflix movie Ballad of a Small Player, he called Matt Reeves' sequel script something only a very excited actor uses this early in the process: high art.

What Farrell actually said (and how he read it)

Farrell, who plays Oswald Cobblepot/The Penguin in this Elseworlds corner of DC, said Reeves did not give him any sort of primer before he dove in. He made tea, sat down, and read the whole thing in one go — about an hour and a half to two hours — and came out buzzing about how dense, smart, and insanely detailed it is. He kept circling back to Robert Pattinson's arc, saying it gives Batman a real journey that pulls the audience along. He also singled out Reeves for being, in his words, unusually meticulous even by director standards — the kind of guy who obsesses over every seam and shadow. In other words: he is not talking about a quick-and-dirty sequel.

"a kind of masterwork"

He did not sugarcoat it: Farrell thinks Reeves is aiming to make something special, not just 'another superhero movie.' And yes, actors hype their projects. But the way he described the read — no warning, kettle on, straight through, mind blown — is more specific (and more telling) than the usual press-tour fluff.

So where does this put Pattinson's Batman?

The moment someone says 'masterwork,' the internet dusts off the 'best Batman' debate. Recent polls usually slot Michael Keaton at the top for live-action, with Christian Bale right behind. And if we are talking voice performance, Kevin Conroy is still the gold standard. Quick refresher on their main runs:

• Michael Keaton — Batman (1989), Batman Returns (1992), The Flash (2023)
• Christian Bale — Batman Begins (2005), The Dark Knight (2008), The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
• Kevin Conroy (voice) — DCAU series and movies; video games like Batman: Arkham Asylum

Farrell's take suggests Pattinson has a lot more runway ahead — a deeper, more defined path for Bruce that could move the needle in that debate. One wrinkle: Pattinson will not be the only Caped Crusader on the board. James Gunn's DCU is also teeing up its own Batman in The Brave and the Bold. So, two Batmen running in parallel — Reeves' Elseworlds take and Gunn's mainline DCU — which is rare and, honestly, pretty fascinating from a franchise standpoint.

The date to circle

The Batman Part II is currently set for October 1, 2027 in the U.S.

Call your shot: if Reeves sticks the landing on this 'dense, detailed' sequel Farrell is raving about, does Pattinson take the crown?