The Batman 2 Will Be Deeper and Scarier—Colin Farrell Says the Stakes Are Bigger Than Ever

Colin Farrell says The Batman 2 is going darker and scarier, but if you were hoping for another Penguin takeover, temper expectations. His role is smaller this time. The good news: cameras are finally set to roll next spring, after a long, delay-loaded road to a 2027 release. Yes, 2027.

Farrell’s update: less Penguin, more fear

Farrell is back as Oz Cobb after his HBO detour on The Penguin, rejoining Robert Pattinson’s Batman and Jeffrey Wright’s Jim Gordon. He’s already read the whole thing and, while he’s not saying much, he did underline the vibe:

'I have got an even smaller role in this one. But I am OK with that... I have read the script, from start to finish, and I cannot say much about it. But it is deeper, scarier, the stakes are bigger. I am really excited to see it.'

Reeves’ angle: still a detective story, but new ground

Director Matt Reeves says the sequel sticks with the detective spine of the first movie, but heads into territory the films have not tackled for Batman and Bruce Wayne. He has suggested Pattinson was into the script specifically because of what it does with the character in a way we have not seen before. Also worth flagging: the villain is someone who has never really been done in a movie before, which is either a fresh pick or a fresh take. Either way, that is a little inside baseball and pretty intriguing.

• Release date: The Batman 2 hits theaters October 1, 2027.
• Production: Filming is slated to start next spring after multiple delays.
• Tone: Deeper, scarier, bigger stakes, per Farrell.
• Story shape: Another detective-driven mystery, per Reeves.
• Villain: A foe the movies have not really tackled before.
• Cast: Robert Pattinson returns as Batman, Jeffrey Wright as Jim Gordon, Colin Farrell as Oz Cobb/The Penguin.
• Penguin’s role: Smaller this time; Farrell is fine with it.
• Context: By the time it opens, it will have been over five years since The Batman (2022), with Farrell’s HBO series The Penguin slotting in between.

So, the wait is long, the vibe is darker, and the mystery angle is still the North Star. If Reeves sticks the landing on that new villain choice and the Bruce/Batman shake-up he is teasing, the five-year gap might actually feel worth it. Might.