Batman will soon join the new DC Universe; however, that will not be the only time fans get to see the Dark Knight in a film, as DC has five Batman movie appearances planned at the moment. While Batman might be DC’s most popular hero, even him getting so many simultaneous live-action adaptations comes as a surprise. In a two-year span, live-action Batman actors Ben Affleck, Michael Keaton, George Clooney, and Robert Pattinson all appeared in theatrical films as their versions of the Dark Knight. The first three were part of The Flash, while Pattinson led The Batman.
With the DCEU over, Batman will soon be recast for James Gunn’s DCU. While the new adventures of a live-action movie Batman are certainly exciting to follow, DC also has some bold plans for the character in another medium. Bruce Wayne has made a name for himself in the animated realm over the years, starting with the seminal Batman: The Animated Series. While the character has led several different shows, Batman’s animated movies, both theatrical and not, are also impressive displays of DC at its best. With a mix of live-action and animation, here are Batman’s five upcoming movie appearances.
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5 Justice League: Crisis On Infinite Earths – Part 2 Helps End The Tomorrowverse
Release Date: April 23, 2024
Batman has been a regular in DC’s animated movies, being part of different shared universes. DC’s most recent shared animated movie universe is called the Tomorrowverse, which sees popular DCU Batman fancast actor Jensen Ackles (Supernatural) voice Bruce Wayne. Ackles first voiced the character of Jason Todd, the second Robin, in one of Batman’s most acclaimed animated movies, Batman: Under the Red Hood, before becoming the Dark Knight himself years later. The Soldier Boy actor from The Boys has led two solo animated films as Bruce Wayne — Batman: The Long Halloween, Part One and Part Two.
Besides his two Batman movies, Ackles has voiced the character in team-up films. The Tomorrowverse is currently in the middle of its three-part finale, with Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part 2‘s trailer showing what fans can expect from Ackles’ Batman and the rest of the Bat-Family in the film.
The second movie in the Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths trilogy brings back Will Friedle as Terry McGinnis/Batman Beyond. That announcement raises excitement for the movie, which will see Friedle play the DC hero for the first time since a 2014 short, interacting with multiple Bat-Family characters.
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4 Batman Azteca: Choque de Imperios Is A Fresh Elseworlds Story
Release Date: TBD
Recently, the first official image of Batman Azteca: Choque de Imperios was released. While the movie will be about the Dark Knight, it will not feature Bruce Wayne, instead opting for an entirely new direction for the franchise. Batman Azteca takes the essence of the character, as well as some of his best villains, and tailors that into what should be a compelling story about loss and justice in a very different setting. Instead of taking to the rooftops of Gotham City, the animated movie will take place in Mexico, at the time of the Aztec Empire.
Batman Azteca: Choque de Imperios follows Yohualli Coatl, a young boy who will become the film’s version of Batman after seeing his father get murdered by Spanish Conquistadors. Finding refuge in another city, Yohualli will train in the bat god Tzinacan’s temple, becoming Batman and getting ready to defend his new home from the Conquistadors. Versions of iconic Batman villains like the Joker and Two-Face are confirmed to appear in the movie. With its fresh spin on Batman’s mythos and characters, Batman Azteca could be a major win for DC’s Elseworlds movies.
3 Justice League: Crisis On Infinite Earths – Part 3 Sees A Final Reunion Between Two DC Legends
Release Date: Late 2024
Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part 3 has a lot going on, which makes it one of DC’s most exciting upcoming movies. The film will mark the final chapter of the Tomorrowverse, bringing the shared DC animated movie universe to an end just before Gunn’s new DC Universe, which will see actors play their roles in live-action and animation, debuts. On top of ending the Tomorrowverse, the movie will be a major multiverse event, using characters from past animated movies and series in addition to Ackles’ Batman and other heroes.
Surprisingly, Kevin Conroy’s Batman and Mark Hamill’s Joker will appear in Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part 3. That means the movie will see the final collaboration between the duo, as Conroy sadly passed in 2022. With the Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League game, once thought to be Conroy’s final Batman role, underperforming, having Conroy’s last time as Batman being opposite Hamill’s Joker, as their Batman: The Animated Series characters, is perfect. As Hamill has revealed that he will not play the Joker after Conroy’s passing, it will be the duo’s final time as their iconic characters.
Check out all of Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part 3‘s Tomorrowverse actor debuts below:
Actor | Role |
|---|---|
Kevin Conroy | Batman |
Mark Hamill | Joker |
Corey Stoll | Lex Luthor |
Brian Bloom | Adam Strange & Sidewinter |
Elysia Rotaru | Black Canary |
Armen Taylor | Jay Garrick |
Cynthia Kaye McWilliams | Dr. Beth Chapel/Cheetah |
Dean Winters | Captain Storm |
Jason Spisak | Blue Lantern Razer, Hayseed |
Brett Halton | Batlash & Captain Atom |
Ashly Burch | Nightshade, Queen Mera |
Katee Sackhoff | Poison Ivy |
2 The Brave and the Bold Reboots Batman For James Gunn’s DC Universe
Release Date: TBD
Gunn has announced the Batman reboot movie The Brave and the Bold as part of the slate for the DC Universe’s Chapter One. The film will finally unite Batman with a version of Robin on the big screen for the first time since the disappointing 1997 movie Batman & Robin. Gunn has revealed that The Brave and the Bold will skip a few Robins in the timeline to focus on Bruce Wayne finding out that he has a biological son, Damian Wayne, with the movie following them getting to know each other and developing a bond.
While Damian will be the movie’s main Robin, that does not mean that past bearers of the superhero sidekick mantle will not show up. Gunn has revealed that The Brave and the Bold will include other members of the Bat-Family, though he has yet to reveal who they might be.
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The Batman reboot will have a DC veteran at the helm, with The Flash director Andy Muschietti returning to oversee the DCU’s Batman movie. While The Flash had some clear issues, the movie was an entertaining and emotional ride, with Keaton and Affleck’s Batman scenes being a high point.
There is still no word on who will play Batman in The Brave and the Bold. Gunn has debunked a few rumors surrounding who might be cast as Bruce Wayne, revealing that there is no script yet for the movie, with casting only set to start after that is done. The fan-favorite to take on the role of Bruce Wayne is Jensen Ackles, who voices the character in the animated Tomorrowverse, with Reacher star Alan Ritchson also a popular choice for Batman in the DCU.
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1 The Batman – Part II Continues A Successful Franchise
Release Date: October 3, 2025
Director Matt Reeves’ The Batman was one of Batman’s best movies, sitting next to The Dark Knight. With a Gotham City that fel like a character on its own, The Batman established a perfectly gloomy, gothic world for Robert Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne to live in. The actor delivered an intense performance in the role, with the movie’s choice to show a Batman at the start of his career being inspired, as it allowed for moments where Batman failed, which his most experienced self would most certainly not have, humanizing the new version of the hero.
Despite the DCU reboot, Pattinson’s Batman will continue to exist in his own corner, with The Batman – Part II being one of DC’s Elseworlds movies. Reeves has yet to reveal any details about The Batman – Part II‘s plot; however, the movie will connect with The Penguin series starring Colin Farrell, which will pick up a week after the events of The Batman. The sequel could bring back characters like Jim Gordon, Catwoman, the Joker, the Riddler, and more for another go while adding other iconic foes from the comics to Pattinson’s Rogues Gallery, making the Batman movie a must-see.
Batman Azteca: Choque de Imperios
A new take on the Caped Crusader, Batman Azteca follows the tale of a young boy named Yohualli who would become the Batman of Tenochitlan after his father is slain by Spanish Conquistadors.
- Director
- Juan Jose Meza-Leon
- Distributor(s)
- HBO Max
- Cast
- Álvaro Morte , Omar Chaparro , Horacio Garcia Rojas , José Carlos Illanes
Batman: The Brave and the Bold
The Brave and the Bold is the first Batman movie in James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DC Universe, which reboots the Dark Knight after Ben Affleck’s take on the character. It introduces Bruce Wayne’s son, the Robin Damian Wayne, and draws inspiration from Grant Morrison’s work on the comic book character.
The Batman – Part II
- Director
- Matt Reeves
- Release Date
- October 3, 2025
- Cast
- Robert Pattinson
Key Release Dates
Joker: Folie a Deux
Release Date:2024-10-04
Superman (2025)
Release Date:2025-07-11The Batman – Part II
Release Date:2025-10-03
