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

The Batman – Part II is still a while from being released, but one big change from the original DC movie is already confirmed to be in the works. The Batman – Part II will be the second in a trilogy of Batman movies by Matt Reeves starring Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne. While the DC Universe launches one year prior, in July 2025, The Batman – Part II will not be a part of the new, rebooted franchise, and will instead be the latest DC Elseworlds production like Todd Phillips’ Joker.

This gives Reeves a substantial level of creative freedom unencumbered by the parameters of James Gunn’s new shared universe. Two writers were credited for The Batman in November 2022, Reeves and Peter Craig, who are both returning to work on the sequel. This time around, however, their names will be joined by another in the credits – a writer whose work previously went unsung – marking a positive step for the sequel when it finally releases in 2026.

The Batman 2 Will Give Writer Mattson Tomlin His First Credit For Work On The Series

Mattson Tomlin Was Not Credited For His Work On The Batman

Mattson Tomlin is a filmmaker and writer whose first writing credit in Hollywood was for 2020’s Project Power. He would go on to write, produce, and direct Mother/Android in 2021 before lending his expertise to The Batman in the form of script edits later in its production. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Tomlin expressed his regret that, despite working hard on the script, his work went uncredited, stating:

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.’

He remained gracious, however, despite the snub, clarifying:

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

Thankfully, things will be different for The Batman – Part II. After joining the project from the jump, Mattson Tomlin will now be credited as a writer for the sequel, which should be a prominent accomplishment for Tomlin while attaching a valuable name to the Elseworlds saga. While his credited involvement now is a positive development, however, it still begs the question of why he was initially excluded from The Batman trilogy in the first place.

Why Mattson Tomlin Wasn’t Credited For His Work On The Batman

The WGA Has A Strict Credit System

Despite how it may first appear, Tomlin’s exclusion from the writing credits of The Batman is simply part of a standard procedure. The Writers Guild of America – which engaged in hugely consequential strike action in Summer 2023 – adheres to a strict system when distributing writing credits for a movie in which it is involved. This system includes ascribing a “Screenplay By” credit only to those who have contributed at least 33% to the final screenplay and is only attributed to a maximum of three individuals or two teams of writers.

Tomlin joined late in the writing process for The Batman, which explains why the WGA did not consider his work substantial enough to earn an official credit for the movie. It also clarifies why Reeves said as much in their meeting. Nevertheless, this did not deter Tomlin from putting his all into the project, stating in his interview that he was concerned about being a “footnote about a guy who once worked on a Batman movie” despite his efforts. Thankfully, this will not be the case – and that is a very good thing.

Why Mattson Tomlin Working On The Batman 2 Is So Promising

Mattson Tomlin Has Proven His Credentials

Tomlin is part of the original trio that penned The Batman, which will return for The Batman – Part II. Only, this time, he will be credited for his work. This consistency is promising insofar as The Batman was a huge success both financially and critically, raking in $766 million at the global box office and sitting at a whopping 85% on Rotten Tomatoes, sharing that score with 2005’s Batman Begins. Whether Reeves’ The Batman trilogy will follow the same critical trajectory as its predecessor with an even more triumphant second movie remains to be seen, but it’s a promising start.

Moreover, Tomlin’s writing prowess is hard to ignore. “Batman: The Imposter” is a particularly pertinent critical success for Tomlin, while his most recently released project – the Terminator Zero animated series – has also received widespread acclaim. The heartwarming fact of the matter, however, is that Tomlin and Reeves have an evidently solid working relationship, as exemplified by Reeves contacting Tomlin six weeks after The Batmanwas released to ask the fateful question: “So, sequel time. You want to do this all the way this time?”

Upcoming DC Movie Releases

Source: The Hollywood Reporter