THE BATMAN: PART II's Jeffrey Wright Teases a Gritty Sidney Lumet-Inspired Crime Story

Fans have been waiting a long time to see what The Batman: Part II has in store, and with cameras finally rolling, we're starting to get a slightly better idea of what Matt Reeves is building because the actors are talking about it.

According to Jeffrey Wright, this isn't aiming to feel like a traditional superhero sequel at all. Instead, Reeves is drawing inspiration from some of the greatest American crime dramas ever made.

That approach shouldn't come as much of a surprise to anyone who loved The Batman. Reeves treated Gotham City like the setting of a detective thriller rather than a flashy comic book spectacle, and it sounds like the sequel is doubling down on that philosophy.

Wright, who returns as Jim Gordon, recently opened up about Reeves' vision and explained why the filmmaker's take on Batman continues to stand apart.

He said: "I think [director] Matt Reeves’ interpretation of the franchise is really fresh, and rich in terms of the narrative, but also rich cinematically.

“I don’t think he views this as frivolous comic book stuff, but he views it as an opportunity to explore contemporary themes through a really dynamic medium that is the Batman franchise. He’s also a massive fan of the franchise, hugely enthusiastic about it, and it’s deeply meaningful for him."

That passion seems to be driving every creative decision Reeves makes. Rather than chasing the familiar superhero formula, he's pulling influence from legendary filmmakers whose work defined an era of American cinema.

Wright continued: "These films, the first one and now working on this one, are films from an era that he and I, because we’re of a certain age, just revere, and those are films of the American cinema of the ’70s – Sidney Lumet films and films that Dustin Hoffman would have been a part of, [Francis Ford] Coppola and [Martin] Scorsese.

“He’s trying to use all of those as touchstones in these films that might, in other hands, not have anything to do, cinematically, with that type of filmmaking."

That's a pretty exciting comparison. Sidney Lumet classics like Serpico and Dog Day Afternoon, along with crime stories from Coppola and Scorsese, aren't exactly the kinds of movies people typically associate with comic book adaptations.

But Reeves has already shown he isn't interested in making a standard Batman movie, and Wright's comments suggest the sequel will continue to blur the line between superhero film and grounded crime drama.

Production on The Batman: Part II officially kicked off in London on June 12, 2026, with Reeves confirming the start of principal photography on social media.

The film continues Reeves' Batman Epic Crime Saga, which began with 2022's The Batman and expanded with HBO Max's acclaimed series The Penguin. The sequel is currently set to arrive in theaters on February 18, 2028.

Returning alongside Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne/Batman are Wright as Gordon, Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth, and Colin Farrell as Oz Cobb, better known as the Penguin.

Joining the franchise are Sebastian Stan, Scarlett Johansson, Charles Dance, Brian Tyree Henry, and Sebastian Koch, although Reeves isn't revealing who any of them are playing just yet.

One of the biggest mysteries surrounding the film is the identity of Two-Face, with online speculation split between Stan and Tyree Henry. Reeves has confirmed the actors are part of the cast but hasn't offered any clues about their characters.

Story details are still mostly under wraps, but the sequel is expected to pick up immediately after the events of The Batman.

Gotham is still reeling from the devastating flood unleashed by the Riddler, leaving the city in chaos. Bruce Wayne will also be wrestling with a question that could define his future: can he help Gotham more as Batman, or as Bruce Wayne?

What are your thoughts on the tone that Reeves is looking to capture with this movie?