The Batman 2 Is Already Set To Make A Big Change From The Original

Although The Batman - Part II won't be out for some time, one significant alteration from the first DC film is known to be in the works. The Batman - Part II is the second installment in Matt Reeves' trilogy of Batman films, which also stars Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne. The Batman - Part II will not be a part of the new, rebooted series; rather, it will be the newest DC Elseworlds production, similar to Todd Phillips' Joker, even though the DC Universe starts one year earlier, in July 2025.

This allows Reeves to be significantly more creatively free from the constraints of James Gunn's new shared universe. Reeves and Peter Craig, the two writers credited for The Batman in November 2022, will both be back for the follow-up. But this time, a writer whose contributions were previously unnoticed will be added to their names in the credits, which is encouraging for the sequel when it eventually comes out in 2026.

Writer Mattson Tomlin's first credit for his work on the series will come from The Batman 2.

Filmmaker and writer Mattson Tomlin's first screenplay credit in Hollywood came from 2020's Project Power. After that, in 2021, he would write, produce, and direct Mother/Android. Later in the film's development, he would contribute his skills to The Batman by editing the script. Tomlin regretted that his efforts on the writing went unacknowledged in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, saying:

It was a painful thing to have happen. I put a lot of time and a lot of heart in. I had a really, really great time working with Matt on that first movie. And when I got brought in, it was kind of said, 'Look, we’re so late in this process that you’re probably not going to get credit.'

But in spite of the rejection, he continued to be polite, explaining:

They paid me. I’m a professional, so be a professional and try not to take that too hard.

Fortunately, The Batman - Part II will bring about a change in circumstances. Mattson Tomlin will now be listed as the writer of the sequel, having joined the project from the beginning. This should be a significant achievement for Tomlin and add a valuable name to the Elseworlds story. His acknowledged participation today is a good thing, but it still raises the question of why he was left out of The Batman trilogy in the first place.

The Reason Mattson Tomlin's Contribution To The Batman Was Not Acknowledged

Tomlin's removal from The Batman's writing credits, despite what might initially seem to be the case, is actually quite ordinary practice. The Writers Guild of America follows a rigid method for allocating writing credits for a film in which it is involved; this is evidenced by the highly consequential strike action that the organization took part in in the summer of 2023. Under this approach, a "Screenplay By" credit can only be given to a maximum of three writers or two teams of writers who have contributed at least 33% to the final script.

Tomlin entered The Batman late in the writing process, which explains why the WGA did not think his contributions were significant enough to warrant an official credit for the film. It also explains Reeves's statement from their meeting. Even so, Tomlin continued to give the film his all, saying in an interview that he was worried about becoming a "footnote about a guy who once worked on a Batman movie" in spite of his hard work. Fortunately, this won't happen, and that's a very good thing.

Why It's So Promising That Mattson Tomlin Is Developing Batman 2

Tomlin is one of the three original writers of The Batman, a group that will reappear in The Batman - Part II. He will, however, receive credit for his efforts this time. This consistency is encouraging because The Batman was a major box office and critical triumph, grossing $766 million worldwide and earning an incredible 85% on Rotten Tomatoes, a number it shares with 2005's Batman Begins. It remains to be seen if Reeves' The Batman trilogy—which features an even more victorious second film—will follow the same critical trajectory as its predecessor, but it's a promising beginning.

Furthermore, it's difficult to overlook Tomlin's talent as a writer. Tomlin's most recent production, the animated series Terminator Zero, has also been widely praised. "Batman: The Imposter" is one of his most significant critical triumphs. Nonetheless, it's a heartwarming fact that Tomlin and Reeves clearly get along well, as demonstrated by the fact that Reeves contacted Tomlin six weeks after The Batman was out with the crucial question, "So, sequel time." You wish to proceed with this entirely this time?"