The Batman May Be Shut Down Longer Than 2 Weeks, According To Matt Reeves

The Batman‘s production delay could last longer than initially expected, according to director Matt Reeves. The coronavirus pandemic has halted countless film and television productions across the globe, from the fourth season of Netflix’s Stranger Things to Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. There was hope that The Batman could avoid this fate, but it was announced on March 14 that the highly-anticipated DC film had begun a two-week shutdown. Production had been taking place in the UK and was looking to shift from London to Liverpool at the time of the shutdown.

The Batman has already undergone an interesting pre-production journey. Once expected to star and be directed by Ben Affleck, the film experienced some changes when Affleck stepped away and Reeves took over. Robert Pattinson is now slated to star as the Caped Crusader, a move that some found surprising, but many are excited for. Reeves has kept plot details closely under wraps, but the star-studded supporting cast has piqued fan interest. In addition to Pattinson, The Batman will star Zoë Kravitz, Andy Serkis, Colin Farrell, Paul Dano, Jeffrey Wright, Peter Sarsgaard, and John Turturro.

Reeves was asked on Twitter if production on The Batman had experienced any delays, and he responded by saying they have shut down “till it is safe for us all to resume.” This seems to indicate the previous two-week delay has evolved into an indefinite delay as Reeves and his crew wait for Warner Bros. to give them the okay. Most delayed productions are suffering similar setbacks, and it’s unclear exactly when they’ll be able to get back to work. You can see Reeves’ tweet below:

Another major issue for Hollywood studios during this outbreak is rearranging their release dates for films. The Batman‘s current release date is June 25, 2021. Depending on how long the shutdown ends up being, that date could be pushed back. Another DC film, Wonder Woman 1984, just saw its June release switched to August of this year. That change isn’t likely to affect The Batman, as the two films aren’t supposed to be connected in a major way, but that doesn’t mean The Batman won’t have to make some adjustments.

The safety of The Batman‘s crew is far more important than getting production done, so it’s better that Warner Bros. is taking more time to assess the situation before giving the all-clear to start work again. It could be disappointing to fans if they have to wait longer to see The Batman, but there’s very little that can be done in this situation. The coronavirus pandemic has hit the entertainment industry hard, and it’s almost certain that the effects will be felt for a long time. Hopefully it won’t be too long before things return to normal.