Batman continues to dominate DC’s long-term screen plans, with multiple projects in development across both live-action and animation.
Matt Reeves’ The Batman Part II (2027) remains one of the most closely watched sequels in development, continuing the grounded detective-driven version of Gotham first introduced in 2022, which was directed by Matt Reeves and starred Robert Pattinson.
At the same time, DC Studios is preparing a full reboot of the character for its DC Universe (the DCU) under James Gunn and Peter Safran with The Brave and the Bold (TBA), which will introduce a new Batman alongside Damian Wayne as Robin.
Alongside these live-action plans, DC’s animated slate continues to expand its interpretation of classic comic arcs. One of the most anticipated upcoming releases is Batman: Knightfall Part 1 (2026), adapting the iconic comic book storyline that introduced Bane and led to one of the most defining moments in Batman mythology.
Now, the film’s runtime has been officially confirmed.
According to a report from TheDirect, DC Studios has confirmed that Batman: Knightfall Part 1 will run for 1 hour and 18 minutes, a notably tight duration for a modern DC animated feature. The report cites an official festival listing which states:
“DC Studios, via the official Annecy Festival listing has confirmed a short runtime of 1 hour, 18 minutes, and 31 seconds for the upcoming animated Batman: Knightfall Part 1: Knightfall movie.”
The relatively short runtime suggests a deliberate structural approach, with DC opting to split Knightfall into multiple entries rather than compressing the story into a single film.
With both live-action and animated versions of Batman operating in parallel, the character continues to exist across multiple interpretations at once — each exploring different facets of Gotham, its mythology, and its enduring appeal.
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