DC Studios has officially named Matt Reeves’ storyline featuring Robert Pattinson the “Batman Epic Crime Saga,” confirming it as a separate and growing universe from the core DCU. This extension of the Robert Pattinson Batman Epic Saga is set to run alongside mainline DC films, establishing a unique Elseworlds continuity within the studio’s superhero portfolio.
DC Studios Confirms a Standalone Batman Extended Universe
In 2022, Matt Reeves released The Batman, starring Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne, just before James Gunn and Peter Safran took leadership at DC Studios. As Gunn and Safran began a comprehensive reboot of the DC cinematic universe, Reeves’ vision for The Batman continued to grow independently.
The studio has explicitly labeled the Batman stories as their own extended universe, particularly noting the connection between the film and related projects such as HBO’s series The Penguin. This designation was confirmed in the release of
“Superman: The Art and Making of the Film,”
which refers to these works as
“Matt Reeves’s The Batman and its extended universe, including HBO series The Penguin.”
– Artbook, Superman: The Art and Making of the Film
The Penguin is a television series focused on Colin Farrell’s character Oz Cobb, depicting events that occur after The Batman and symbolizing the first expansion of this universe in 2024. Looking ahead, DC Studios intends to further grow the Batman Epic Crime Saga with the highly anticipated The Batman: Part II set for 2027, while discussions for a new season of The Penguin are ongoing. Furthermore, there are reports that Reeves is actively developing another unannounced spinoff, signaling continued development of this dedicated Batman continuity.
Position Within the DC Studios Multiverse
“The Batman” universe is characterized as a selective narrative that exists outside the main DCU storylines, described conceptually as
“select stories set outside the main continuity,”
along with other examples like Todd Phillips’ Joker and Joker Folie à Deux, according to official materials. This distinction has led to questions from fans about the future of these Elseworlds stories under the new studio leadership and whether they could be absorbed into the primary DCU.
James Gunn and Peter Safran addressed concerns early in their tenure, emphasizing the importance of Elseworlds projects—films existing beyond the canonical DC timeline. This dual approach aims to
“mirror how readers have enjoyed a combination of main line and bespoke DC Comics over the years.”
– Superman: The Art and Making of the Film
This strategy officially confirms the coexistence of two separate superhero universes. The first is the core DCU, containing major heroes like Superman and Peacemaker, poised to introduce Supergirl and Clayface in 2026. The second is the Robert Pattinson Batman Epic Saga, operating under its own Elseworlds banner and expanding independently with additional films and television series.
Two Competing Batman Worlds
From the outset, the Robert Pattinson Batman Epic Saga has been recognized as existing apart from the main DCU continuity. However, there has been speculation that DC Studios may eventually integrate Pattinson’s version as the definitive Batman within the main universe, especially as the DCU delays the introduction of its own new Batman, with “The Brave and the Bold” still in pre-production and no actor currently cast for the role.
In the meantime, the DCU continues to set up its own bat-themed universe by introducing characters like Clayface, one of Batman’s best-known villains, with a film set for 2026. Rumors intensified after the discovery of a Battinson logo during Clayface’s film production, but to this point, DC Studios has not confirmed any plans to merge the two universes.
The question of Batman’s ultimate place within the DC multiverse persists, as the Robert Pattinson Batman Epic Saga pushes forward independently and the DCU moves ahead under Gunn and Safran. “The Batman” premiered in March 2022, starring Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne, Zoe Kravitz as Selina Kyle, and Colin Farrell as Oz Cobb. The next chapter, The Batman – Part II, is scheduled for release on October 1, 2027, and will further develop Pattinson’s portrayal of Gotham’s vigilante.
The Future of DC’s Cinematic Universes
As the DCU and the Robert Pattinson Batman Epic Saga each develop along separate paths, fans are left to anticipate the evolving shape of Batman’s legacy on screen. The approach of running parallel universes allows DC Studios to experiment with diverse stories and character interpretations, reminiscent of how DC Comics have long blended mainline and standalone tales featuring heroes and villains.
The studio’s Elseworlds framework ensures that distinctive interpretations like Matt Reeves’ Batman series will continue to have a place, even as the main DCU expands with new characters and narratives such as Supergirl and Clayface. The next several years will reveal whether these universes remain distinct or move closer together, but for now, the Robert Pattinson Batman Epic Saga stands as a central pillar of DC Studios’ future plans.
