Matt Reeves’ The Batman: Part II is moving closer to production, with the director confirming a key creative addition behind the camera. Luke Hull, known for his Emmy-winning work on Chernobyl and his striking set designs for Andor, has joined the sequel as production designer. Hull’s experience in building grounded, immersive environments is expected to shape Gotham City’s next cinematic evolution as filming begins in January 2026.
Reeves’ decision to bring Hull on board continues his emphasis on tactile realism—a hallmark of The Batman’s world. Hull’s approach on Andor drew praise for its use of physical sets and its grounded sense of place, qualities that should complement the moody, noir-inspired Gotham established in the first film. With the script reportedly completed earlier this year, the sequel now has its creative foundation in place as it moves toward active production.
The Batman: Part II remains separate from James Gunn’s mainline DC Universe, continuing Reeves’ own self-contained vision under DC’s “Elseworlds” banner. Robert Pattinson returns as Bruce Wayne, alongside Jeffrey Wright as Commissioner Jim Gordon and Colin Farrell as Oswald “Oz” Cobblepot. Farrell has already revisited his character in The Penguin, HBO Max’s upcoming limited series, which explores Gotham’s criminal underworld in the aftermath of The Batman.
Speaking recently about his return, Farrell described the project less as an opportunity to reinvent his character and more as a chance to reenter the atmosphere Reeves has built. He called the director’s interpretation “a world that’s unique enough and still honors the struggles of that city and the psychological conflicts of Bruce Wayne and Batman.” Farrell, who grew up watching Batman ’66 and admires previous iterations from Danny DeVito to Christopher Nolan’s darker vision, said returning to Gotham “just to be around Robert and Jeffrey again” is what excites him most.
The Batman: Part II is currently slated for a 2027 release, with production expected to run through much of next year. The original film remains available to stream on HBO Max, while Reeves continues to expand his version of Gotham through related projects like The Penguin. Hull’s addition marks a significant step forward for the sequel, signaling a continued focus on atmospheric storytelling and meticulous world-building that helped define the first film.
