Sometimes it feels like a million years have passed between installments in a series. This is true in books, in comics, and definitely in movies.
For actor Robert Pattinson, the years are extra long, because he is specifically waiting to be called up to act as the titular role in The Batman 2, which will follow on the heels of the two part The Batman, already filmed and half-released.
In an interview recently with Hero Magazine, Pattinson expressed a bit of frustration with the wait between filming schedules for the gargantuan DC Studios endeavor. It wasn't that he's lacking for other roles—he recently starred in sci-fi film Mickey 17—it's just that he's getting up there in age.
When asked if filming would start on The Batman 2 soon, his response was blunt and heartfelt.
“I f**king hope so. I started out as young Batman and I’m going to be fucking old Batman by the sequel.. I’m 38, I’m old.”
He was quick to add, however, that the regimen he has needed to keep up in order to be relatively Batman-ready has made him feel younger in many ways.
“I’m old, but I’m healthier. I think I’ve actually brought my biological age down a bit.”
People shared in Pattinson's impatience for a sequel, though perhaps for different reasons than the actor.
Folks were wondering what DC has been doing all this time? The answer is filming the limited series The Penguin on HBO Max, but still, it's been a while.
Additionally, the movie can't go forward without a complete script by Reeves, because Gunn, the director of The Batman 2, reasonably isn't going to attempt to film a massive blockbuster by the seat of his pants.
However, it feels like a very long time for those of us in the theater seats, and presumably for Pattinson, as it's been a central part of his 2020s career for a long time now.
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Some commenters had ideas on how to fix the agonizing wait for sequels in comic franchises.
Others thought that it hasn't really been that long since Pattinson's first film as Batman came out.
However, others were quick to contextualize the filming and release schedule from Pattinson's point-of-view, where he has been filming and releasing The Batman since 2020.
The true magnitude of Pattinson's age change started to dawn on some folks.
Others agreed with Pattinson and imagined relevant plot lines for an older Batman.
People were brainstorming ideas for a title of the sequel.
Finally, the general sentiment shared by fans and Pattinson alike was pretty clear.
The Batman 2 is reported to begin filming at the end of 2025.