THE BATMAN II Writer Mattson Tomlin Reflects On Not Being Credited For THE BATMAN And Working On The Sequel

THE BATMAN II Writer Mattson Tomlin Reflects On Not Being Credited For THE BATMAN And Working On The Sequel

After missing out on a credit for The Batman's screenplay in 2022, writer Mattson Tomlin (Terminator Zero) has addressed that and his return for the upcoming sequel alongside filmmaker Matt Reeves...

By JoshWilding - Sep 01, 2024 06:09 AM EST
Filed Under: The Batman
Source: The Hollywood Reporter

The Batman's official credits state that Matt Reeves and Peter Craig wrote the movie; however, Terminator Zero showrunner Mattson Tomlin made key contributions to the script which a WGA arbitration ultimately decided wasn't enough to also earn him a credit. 

Talking to The Hollywood Reporter, the Mother/Android writer revealed that he'd learned he wouldn't be getting a credit on The Batman when he started work on Terminator Zero. As you might expect, that left him feeling in "a kind of downturn."

However, Reeves later turned to Tomlin to co-write The Batman II, and he tells the trade that, not only did this mend any hard feelings, but it's now given him the opportunity to show the world what he can do in the Caped Crusader's corner of the DC Universe. 

The writer started by explaining how it felt to learn his name wouldn't be linked to The Batman

"Yeah, I’ll be honest about it. 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.' So nobody did anything to me. I wasn’t screwed over. We ended up doing so much, not just on the third act, but then heightening things in the mystery, and the first two acts — that then there was kind of a moment of, 'Oh, wait, maybe there’s a chance [I’ll get credit].' But that’s all that it was. And then my name got out there in public, which is always kind of a bad idea. So, then I’m associated with this thing.

So I found out the day that the Fandome trailer came out [in August 2020]. On the one hand, it was like, 'Wow, there it is!' And on the other hand, it’s like, '…and I don’t have anything to do with this anymore.' And that was a little bit of a heartbreak, and there was a level of, dare I say, having to grow up and having to go, 'You know what? They paid me. I’m a professional, so be a professional and try not to take that too hard.'"

As for what it's been like working on the sequel as co-writer, Tomlin added:

"The day that the movie came out, [Matt Reeves] and I talked on the phone for an hour or two, and he was just talking about the process of making the movie, and I think just kind of processing the experience that he had had. And I had an impulse to go like, 'OK, but are you going to ask me to do the sequel?' And I didn’t go there. Instead, it became very clear to me, he just wants to talk about what he’s just been through. So just be a good dude, be a good friend, celebrate that he still treating me like it’s something that I was a part of, because I was. And so just enjoy that. And it was about six weeks later that he called me and said, 'So, sequel time. You want to do this all the way this time?'

There was such a tremendous emotional catharsis for me, because Batman means a ton to me. And I think that when you’re a writer, a director, a creator, you’re trying to do things that matter to you, but also that matter to audiences. And all the scary thoughts came. The imposter syndrome came, and the thoughts of, 'Oh, am I going to be the footnote in a Wikipedia article of, 'Oh yeah, he had something to do with that one, and that was his career?'' All that dark, scary stuff happened. And it’s still there, by the way, but it was kind of this moment of, 'OK — it’s not even a redemption arc. It’s more like, now I get to prove myself. Now I get the big boy job.' And so, all of that is to say, I am I forever, forever in debt to Matt Reeves. He’s changed my life three times over now."

No official details have been shared about The Batman follow-up, though The Penguin will bridge the gap between the two movies when it premieres later this month. 

The first movie set the stage for Robert Pattinson's Dark Knight to match wits with The Joker, though the bulk of Barry Keoghan's screentime ended up being confined to a deleted scene released on social media. 

The Batman II is scheduled to arrive in theaters on October 2, 2026.

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McMurdo
McMurdo - 9/1/2024, 7:25 AM
Let's just hope Reeves doesn't actually think Hush is the way to go after aping the character for his Riddler. Give us something new. And give us Bruce Wayne this time.
SuperJefe
SuperJefe - 9/1/2024, 8:25 AM
I have a feeling the success of Gunn’s Superman and the beginning of the new universe may factor heavily into this movie being a thing or not.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 9/1/2024, 8:47 AM
@SuperJefe - why do people think that when even Gunn has disputed it?.

Plus The Batman made money and ultimately as long as Zaslav is happy with that then it’ll continue as long as Reeves wants
TheNewYorker
TheNewYorker - 9/1/2024, 8:59 AM
@SuperJefe - Huh..
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 9/1/2024, 10:38 AM
@SuperJefe - It should, but because of the contract that Reeves got Gunn's hands are tied. He has to make whatever Matt Reeves decides to make whether he wants to or not.
McMurdo
McMurdo - 9/1/2024, 12:22 PM
@SuperJefe - your feeling is wrong. The script is going to be finished before Superman drops and the first film was a critical darling and made plenty of money. It's happening regardless.
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 9/1/2024, 8:31 AM
That's a really crappy thing to do WB's. What a shocker at this point....😑
Gambito
Gambito - 9/1/2024, 10:38 AM
@lazlodaytona - not really a WB thing more like a guild estipulation he was brought on late in the game for last minute rewrites alongside Matt
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 9/1/2024, 12:06 PM
@Gambito - but WBs obviously didn't try to back him up and fight it. No one did. That's shameful.
McMurdo
McMurdo - 9/1/2024, 12:41 PM
@lazlodaytona - I don't think the studio had much of a say if any at all. This is a guild thing.
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 9/1/2024, 12:59 PM
@McMurdo - I know. But, see my reply to Gambito.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 9/1/2024, 8:51 AM
Yeah , I can understand…

It’s unfortunate to not receive credit on something regardless of how much you may have worked on it (apparently WGA states a writer must have contributed to atleast 33 percent of the final script to receive that which is so arbitrary).

I’m glad that Matt gave him another shot though to work on the sequel from the beginning so that’s good.

This dudes profile is slowly rising since not only is he the showrunner of Terminator Zero but he’s also developing the “Aegon’s Conquest” GOT spin-off show amongst other things aswell as being a comic writer that’s already gotten a significant amount of praise for his work there aswell so good for him.

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DaHULK2000
DaHULK2000 - 9/1/2024, 9:17 AM
D..O...A...
Fares
Fares - 9/1/2024, 9:40 AM
Now that's a great mindset
BillyBatson1000
BillyBatson1000 - 9/1/2024, 11:07 AM
Dude, walk away from that 'third act' - let someone else carry the full weight of that.
LeonNova
LeonNova - 9/1/2024, 2:24 PM
@BillyBatson1000 - He could’ve done that, but if he had, he probably wouldn’t be co-writing The Batman Part II right now. He still got paid and he solidified a relationship with an important industry figure in Reeves, which has now opened the door to more lucrative opportunities for him. He played it smart.
BillyBatson1000
BillyBatson1000 - 9/1/2024, 2:59 PM
@LeonNova - You're absolutely right - and I couldn't be more pleased for him.
dragon316
dragon316 - 9/1/2024, 11:30 AM
That’s sucks how hard is it put someone name in credits good for him rede himself get credit this time around
LeonNova
LeonNova - 9/1/2024, 2:26 PM
The movie is in active production with a release date announced lol
Beer85
Beer85 - 9/2/2024, 4:01 AM
Hope the sequel has more of filming Batmans feet when he walks, nirvana playing and Gordon saying Jaysus. I think we didnt get quite enough of that in the first movie.
MarvelZombie616
MarvelZombie616 - 9/2/2024, 5:55 PM
The Batman was ok, nothing more.

I will watch The Batman II in 2026.

I'm not holding my breath fora 3rd part.

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