Andy Serkis set to return as Bruce Wayne's loyal butler in 'The Batman Part II' but there's a catch
Andy Serkis is set to return as Bruce Wayne’s butler, Alfred Pennyworth, despite his busy schedule, as per Deadline. The acclaimed actor will reportedly reprise his role in the upcoming title, 'The Batman Part II,' directed by Matt Reeves. The sequel will begin shooting in June 2026 in London. This comes after there was some speculation that he may not be able to make it to the set because of work on another large-scale venture, 'The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum', which is set to release on December 17, 2027. While promoting his next release, 'Animal Farm,' Serkis confirmed his involvement in the title while speaking to ScreenRant, but there's a catch.
Serkis added that because of his other work commitments, he would not be able to join the cast of 'The Batman Part II' "immediately." However, he hopes he will be able to come on board "by the end of the year." The actor also appreciated the "emotional" story penned by Reeves and Mattson Tomlin for the Robert Pattinson-led sequel. "I obviously can't say too much about the film other than that I am really excited about going back into the world and working with Matt Reeves again, who I've now worked with a number of times, and he's a dear friend, and Rob," Serkis shared. "And the script and the story and the new story really does speak to Matt as a human being and what he feels about life. Rob and he got on brilliantly. And I can't say any more than that, but yeah, the relationship continues to be one of a very close, slightly at odds, but beautiful relationship," he added.
Andy Serkis says ‘THE BATMAN: PART 2’ will “be a very emotional film.”
— The Batman Saga News (@TheBatmanSagaNW) April 3, 2026
“I am at the moment sort of a little bit busy with another project that I’m directing called The Hunt for Gollum. So I won’t be joining them [for filming] but, by the end of the year, I will be hopefully.”… pic.twitter.com/AW1OC1KCNk
The relationship Serkis is referring to is the dynamic between Alfred Pennyworth and Bruce Wayne. Alfred serves as both a butler and a surrogate father to the titular hero. In the first installment, Serkis' character played a major part in the story, assisting his 'boss' during the second year of his caped crusader activities. His late arrival may hint at a limited role in the sequel. However, if the production is as large as the first movie, all of Serkis' parts could be filmed during a particular period rather than over the entire schedule, depending on the actors' availability.
Robert Pattinson and Colin Farrell are also expected to return as Batman and Penguin, respectively. New entrants include big names like Scarlett Johansson and Sebastian Stan. Hopes are high for the upcoming sequel as 'The Batman' went on to gross over $772M worldwide, becoming a bona fide hit. It also spawned a critically acclaimed show titled 'The Penguin', which took home nine Emmys.
