Warner Bros. Reshuffles 2027-28 Slate, Pushing “The Batman Part II” to 2028 and Advancing J.J. Abrams’ “The Great Beyond”

Warner Bros. has moved Matt Reeves’ superhero sequel “The Batman Part II” from its October 1, 2027 slot to February 18, 2028 (IMAX release). The vacated October date will now host J.J. Abrams’ sci-fi fantasy “The Great Beyond,” which has been shifted from a November 13, 2026 (some reports say 2027) premiere to October 1, 2027 with an IMAX 70 mm run. The calendar adjustment also swaps Sam Esmail’s thriller “Panic Carefully” (now April 9, 2027) and New Line’s horror sequel “Revenge of La Llorona” (now February 26, 2027).

Deadline Hollywood

The original October 2025 release plan for “The Batman Part II” was postponed after the 2023 Writers Guild and SAG-AFTRA strikes, pushing the film to October 2026 and later to October 2027. A further five-month production delay, cited by Warner Bros. as needed for post-production on the effects-heavy sequel, triggered the February 2028 date. Abrams’ “The Great Beyond,” his first directorial effort since 2019’s *Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker*, was slated for a November 2026 launch but was moved to accommodate the Batman sequel’s new slot and to allow an IMAX 70 mm rollout.

Hollywood Reporter

• Matt Reeves – Director and co-writer of “The Batman Part II,” returning Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne and adding Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Charles Dance, Brian Tyree Henry, and Sebastian Koch.

First Look At The Batman Part II Amidst New 2028 Delay

• J.J. Abrams – Writer-director of “The Great Beyond,” starring Glen Powell, Jenna Ortega, Emma Mackey, Sophie Okonedo, Merritt Wever, and Samuel L. Jackson; also composing the score.

Express Tribune

• Warner Bros. Pictures – Studio orchestrating the schedule shift, citing additional time for IMAX 70 mm print production and post-production needs.

Variety Magazine

\*Some outlets listed November 13, 2027 as the original date for “The Great Beyond,” creating a minor discrepancy.

Express Tribune

• The 2022 “The Batman” opened with $134 million domestic and $770.3 million worldwide, the second-best pandemic-era opening.

Hollywood Reporter

• “The Great Beyond” test screenings reportedly generated strong feedback, prompting the IMAX 70 mm strategy.

Variety Magazine

• The February 2028 slot provides a four-day domestic weekend, a rare “spring-ish” window for a tentpole.

Page Six

Warner Bros. indicated that the February 2028 date gives Reeves “more time in post-production” and aligns the sequel with a four-day weekend. The studio also noted that the IMAX 70 mm rollout for both films “requires additional lead time for print production.” DC Studios co-chief James Gunn defended the extended gap between the two Batman films, noting that multi-year intervals are common for major sequels.

Hollywood Reporter

No published criticism or dissenting commentary was identified in the available sources.

First Look At The Batman Part II Amidst New 2028 Delay

• Original “Great Beyond” date: Deadline reports a November 13, 2026 launch, while Variety and other outlets cite November 13, 2027.

Express Tribune

• Initial “Batman Part II” date: Hollywood Reporter lists an October 3, 2025 slot; Page Six references October 2, 2026. The exact original date remains unclear across reports.

Hollywood Reporter

• “To be fair, a 5-year gap or more is fairly common in sequels,” — James Gunn, DC Studios co-chief (Threads).

Variety Magazine

• “The movie will be getting an Imax 70 mm rollout, which is made possible by the release delay, as now there’s more time to generate prints.” — Variety report.

Variety Magazine