The Batman arrived in theaters last March and, in what proved to be a crowded year for movies, it felt like it was largely overshadowed in the months that followed.
Matt Reeves' R-Rated reboot was a hit with $771 million at the worldwide box office (no easy feat given how tainted the DCEU brand has become) and a respectable 85% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Now, a sequel - and multiple Max spin-offs - are in the works.
Shooting on The Penguin was recently halted due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, while Reeves has also been forced to stop penning The Batman II's screenplay.
The franchise is going to stand separate from the DCU, and will likely retain an R-Rating. In the UK, a 15 - meaning people under that age aren't allowed to watch a movie in cinemas - is typically equivalent to an R, with an 18 rating a rarity.
The British Board of Film Classification deals with complaints from UK moviegoers, and they've revealed that The Batman was one of the most complained about releases in 2022. However, those had nothing to do with the blockbuster's content.
According to Variety, the complaints were in regards to the 15 age rating as people "felt that the classification was too restrictive and would prevent younger children who would like to see the film from watching it at the cinema."
The Batman was not a kid-friendly movie in any way, shape or form. In fact, the BBFC classified it a 15 due to its "strong threat [and] violence."
In related news, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness also received complaints from people who expressed concerns about the movie's horror elements as a result of its 12A rating (which means moviegoers under 12 can watch it providing they're accompanied by an adult).
The Batman II is currently set to be released in theaters on October 3, 2025.