In a significant shake-up of the film release schedule, Warner Bros. has announced that Tom Cruise’s upcoming collaboration with renowned director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu will now take the highly coveted October 2, 2026, release date. The untitled film marks Inarritu’s first English-language project since The Revenant and Cruise’s first film under his new deal with Warner Bros.
The move pushes back the release of The Batman sequel, originally slated for October 2026, to October 1, 2027. Director Matt Reeves’ film, which was previously titled The Batman: Part II, will enter production in the third quarter of 2025, giving Reeves ample time to perfect the script and ensure the best possible quality for the film.
James Gunn, co-chair of DC Studios, addressed the delay, stating that Reeves is “committed to making the best film he possibly can,” and emphasized that the unpredictable timeline of scriptwriting is a key factor. Gunn added that once a script is finalized, it takes roughly two years for pre-production, shooting, and post-production on major films.
Meanwhile, other anticipated films are also undergoing shifts. Mickey 17, starring Robert Pattinson and directed by Bong Joon Ho, has moved to a March 7, 2025, release, while Sinners, directed by Ryan Coogler and starring Michael B. Jordan, will now open on April 18, 2025. The latter’s delay is due to Coogler’s decision to shoot on traditional film stock, which has created production challenges due to limited lab availability.
Tom Cruise’s collaboration with Inarritu, which also features a star-studded cast including Sandra Hüller, John Goodman, and Jesse Plemons, centers around Cruise’s character—described as the world’s most powerful man—who embarks on a desperate mission to prevent a global catastrophe.
The shifting release schedule signals an exciting and competitive few years ahead, with major films like The Batman sequel and Cruise’s highly anticipated project set to dominate the movie landscape.