Why The Batman's Earth-2 Setting Is Better Than It Being In The Real DCEU
The Batman is reportedly going to be taking place on Earth-2 and that is the better setting for the reboot than having any ties to the DCEU. Robert Pattinson will be the next actor to bring the Dark Knight to life cinematically in Matt Reeves' upcoming DC film. While it won't be an origin story, it will follow Bruce Wayne during his second year as Gotham City's infamous crime-fighter. The project was initially going to serve as a solo movie for Ben Affleck's Batman in the DCEU after the original 2017 release of Zack Snyder's Justice League.
But after Affleck stepped down, The Batman ended up becoming a reboot that will kick off a trilogy of films for Pattinson's character. While the Snyderverse won't be continuing, Warner Bros. will be leaning heavily into the DC Multiverse that will particularly begin with The Flash film. However, in a recent report following the cancelation of New Gods and The Trench, The Batman will apparently be taking place on Earth-2 in the DCEU Multiverse. By taking place in a completely new universe, it benefits Pattinson's Batman greatly.
The Earth-2 designation is still up for debate, however, as that has yet to be officially declared by Warner Bros., DC Films, or Reeves in regards to the reboot's exact place in the Multiverse. But no matter what Earth that The Batman will take place on, it's still a strong thing for Pattinson's franchise to be completely free of the DCEU. With The Flash getting the Multiverse involved in its upcoming storyline, it will kick off a new phase for DC Films. Since Affleck's Batman is still involved with the DCEU, having Pattinson's Caped Crusader being able to do its own thing plays really well into the Multiverse angle.
The Batman would have never worked as a prequel to Affleck's iteration of the DC hero neither in tone or characterization. By getting to start over in its own continuity, Reeves's Batman reboot allows the filmmaker to craft his own mythology for Pattinson's take on Gotham City's vigilante. Since the main DCEU is still figuring things out following the Snyder Cut, having The Batman disconnected from any of the current baggage lets the franchise get off to a good start.
Warner Bros. has made it clear they want to explore their DC properties through various interpretations like the upcoming Superman reboot that will focus on a black Man of Steel. That also applies to the many DC TV properties that currently exist, primarily the Arrowverse, as well as the ones that are in the works for HBO Max. Whether it's officially Earth-2 or not, wherever The Batman falls into the DC Multiverse, it's better for that new franchise to start fresh than having any connections to the main DCEU.