With another new year on the horizon, the cinephiles have a large slate of new releases to welcome with the party poppers. However, besides the anticipative cinematic showdown between Christopher Nolan and Steven Spielberg, nothing else perhaps keeps the fans on edge like Matt Reeves’ The Batman II and Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Messiah. Although the two movies were already in line to share a vital connection, a new update for Dune: Messiah has practically thrown The Batman II under the bus.

While cinematic clashes are no surprise to fans, this latest update teases a possible head-to-head that might shake things up for one or both sides.

Zendaya and Timothée Chalamet are gearing up to return to theaters with the third installment of their Dune series. But, contrary to earlier reports, The Hollywood Reporter recently revealed that Dune: Messiah is entering production as soon as next summer, with Denis Villeneuve now working on the script and finalizing the cast. While this should be thrilling news for fans eagerly awaiting the third film, it spells potential trouble for Matt Reeves' The Batman II, given that Greig Fraser might be involved in both projects.

Despite their divergent focal points, previous reports indicated Fraser would likely be available as the cinematographer for both The Batman II and Dune: Messiah, as their timelines were set for 2025 and 2026, respectively. However, with the production windows now overlapping more closely, it is worth questioning not only his availability but also whether his potential involvement in both might impact the quality of cinematography in one or the other.

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Although there has been no official word on whether Fraser would become a part of The Batman II, director Matt Reeves shed light on the possibility just weeks ago. 

Matt Reeves chatted with Collider just last month to bring exciting new updates on The Batman II, including the possible involvement of Greig Fraser’s return as a cinematographer. Although at the time Reeves was unsure, he certainly kept his fingers crossed, hoping their schedules aligned. But even with all that uncertainty, Reeves was crystal clear that he really wanted Fraser to return.

Reeves explained how Fraser had been crucial to The Penguin series to ensure it shared the visual DNA of The Batman. While the director feels their creative chemistry is unbeatable, a lot hinged on Fraser’s schedule aligning to make this high-profile collaboration happen. However, with everything now in limbo due to Dune: Messiah's recent update, it remains to be seen what lies in the fate of The Batman II.

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Do you think Dune: Messiah's production next summer will cast a shadow of doubt on The Batman II? Let us know in the comments below!