By delaying The Batman 2, Matt Reeves' Dark Knight trilogy could be made even better. The Batman draws some inspiration from the character's "Year One" comic book arc, with Robert Pattinson's version of the character operating in his earlier years as the vigilante hero (more specifically, a Year Two Batman). While The Batman exists in a separate continuity to the wider DCEU, it being set earlier on in the Dark Knight's hero career leaves room for a number of sequels.
While The Batman's director has ideas for future sequels, Reeves doesn't want to rush The Batman 2. It seems clear that more Batman movies with Robert Pattinson in the cape and cowl will happen, with this likely the beginning of a new trilogy. However, exactly how and when The Batman 2 will come about has yet to be announced.
In fact, delaying The Batman 2 would be a far better option than an immediate sequel. It would not only remain in line with Reeves' comments about not rushing The Batman 2 but could also incorporate some of Pattinson's own ideas for the future of the character. While it's become the norm for franchises to churn out regular sequels in order to remain relevant, leaving a period of years between The Batman and potential sequels would actually make for a more satisfying narrative.
With a massive number of upcoming DC movies, squeezing The Batman 2 into the mix would be unnecessary. Instead, giving the film's characters a period of years to mature naturally before revisiting them would allow for the exploration of different eras of Batman's career. With The Batman focusing on the Caped Crusader finding his identity as a hero, The Batman 2 could focus on the hero in his prime, with a third film then able to address the challenges the hero will face with age. This approach would make for a satisfying and logical character arc, but it would also touch on deeper themes, and have The Batman's story draw parallels with that of Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy (albeit over a longer period of time).
Giving each installment of Reeves' Batman trilogy a distinct era would be a fresh approach to adapting the character's story, but it's unlikely Warner Bros. will allow it. After all, The Batman comes with a lot of box office appeal, and should the first film be successful, they'll likely push a sequel through sooner rather than later. However, with Michael Keaton set to join the DCEU as Batman in The Flash, it's possible that Reeves' wishes not to rush a sequel will be honored.
Whether or not The Batman 2 will be rushed into production on the heels of The Batman remains to be seen. However, Matt Reeves' comments on taking his time to make a sequel are interesting, and they could well lead to a much more thought-out approach to Robert Pattinson's Batman. While every indication points to a sequel sooner or later, delaying The Batman 2 would certainly be an interesting approach that could pay off in the long run.
