DC Studios' The Batman - Part II is easily one of the most highly-anticipated movies on the Hollywood release schedule. A long-awaited sequel to Matt Reeves' 2022 thriller The Batman, it is set to bring back Robert Pattinson for another vivid adventure in Reeves' grim Gotham City, in what is shaping up to be yet another star-studded ensemble.
As all involved gear up for the beginning of production in the coming months, the pieces are in place for the sequel to kick-off its journey towards its release. Well, almost, it seems. According to one major report, the studio has yet to cast one particular role in the Batman flick, with a number of A-List names passing on it. It looks like we can add another name to the list.
Daniel Craig reportedly passes on substantial role in The Batman 2
World of Reel is reporting that Daniel Craig was offered the role of Christopher Dent in The Batman - Part II but that the actor ultimately passed on the role. For non-comic book fans Christopher is the father of Harvey Dent and the script reportedly features the character in a meaty capacity, which explains why the studio is eager to cast a well-known name.
Craig isn't the only star that DC Studios attempted to recruit, as the outlet also reports that Brad Pitt and Stellan Skarsgård being offered the role, with both ultimately declining (Pitt reportedly showed interest at first). And so, it's back to the drawing board for the sequel, as all involved will attempt to cast the character before production kicks off on May 29 in London.
This wouldn't be the first DC role that Craig has been offered. The star was originally set to play the title character in Luca Guadagnino's Sgt. Rock for DC Studios but he eventually dropped out of the role. The Penguin star Colin Farrell was set to replace him but the film itself is on hold right now. It's unclear at this point in time if it will move forward or not.
But The Batman - Part II will be moving forward into production in the coming months, which makes casting Christopher Dent all the more important. Early reports indicate that the Dent family will be at the center of the upcoming film, with all of them set to be played by Hollywood headliners - and Marvel stars!
Sebastian Stan has joined the cast as Harvey Dent. He was initially cast in what was reported as "a mystery role", but multiple outlets have confirmed that he will be playing the legendary DC character. Meanwhile, Stan's former Marvel co-star Scarlett Johansson has also joined the cast in a mystery role. She will reportedly be playing Harvey's wife Gilda Dent, although that has yet to be officially confirmed too.
DC Comics fans will know that Harvey is one of the most complex characters in comic book history. The Gotham City District Attorney and close friend of Bruce Wayne, he is eventually attacked by Salvatore Maroni in court, with the acid transforming him into the villain Two-Face. It's unclear at the moment whether The Batman - Part II will directly tell that story, but considering the Matt Reeves franchise is renowned for diving into the dark, mob-heavy underbelly of Gotham City, it's very possible that it could take this route.
Regardless, it's pretty clear that the Matt Reeves movie is going to be one of 2027's biggest titles. The first film grossed over $770 million in 2022, setting pandemic records and showing audiences around the world that Batman still has what it takes to draw audiences to movie theaters. With that long-awaited sequel, the star-studded cast, and the spinoff buzz that The Penguin generated, we have no doubt that the upcoming The Batman - Part II will do the same.
The Batman - Part II arrives in movie theaters on October 1, 2027.