The Batman Deleted Superman & Wonder Woman Scenes Explained
Warning: Contains SPOILERS for The Batman.
The Batman set photos indicated Superman and Wonder Woman would be referenced in the movie, but it seems these DC "cameos" did not make the final cut. When Matt Reeves agreed to take on The Batman following Ben Affleck's exit, he wanted to reboot the Dark Knight as part of a new continuity. This allowed the director to cast Robert Pattinson as Batman and tell the early days of his vigilantism without worrying about what it means for the DC Extended Universe's canon. As a result, The Batman had the freedom to introduce new versions of major DC characters from the comics.
Robert Pattinson's new take on Bruce Wayne, a.k.a. Batman, is obviously at the forefront of this new universe. Audiences who see The Batman will meet Reeves' interpretations of classic Batman villains like Riddler (Paul Dano), Penguin (Colin Farrell), and Carmine Falcone (John Turturro). The movie also brings several of the Caped Crusader's allies to the screen, as Jim Gordon (Jeffrey Wright), Catwoman (Zoë Kravitz), and Alfred Pennyworth (Andy Serkis) appear. Of course, The Batman also includes teases of some other potentially significant DC characters for Batman's next adventure, such as Robin and Joker. All of these characters are squarely from Batman's corner of the comics, which means other Justice League heroes don't make appearances.
However, set photos from The Batman teased fans with the exciting possibility of Superman and Wonder Woman making unexpected cameos. Based on the set photos, their appearances were set to come as part of Gotham's Halloween festivities. Background actors were shown wearing Halloween costumes that resembled Superman and Wonder Woman, which would confirm that these prominent heroes exist in The Batman's universe. It seems those looking for these cameos will be disappointed in that regard when they watch the movie, as the Superman and Wonder Woman references now seem to only exist as a The Batman deleted scene.
Superman and Wonder Woman have yet to be spotted in The Batman's final cut, and it is unclear what purpose they were supposed to have originally. It is possible the background actors were allowed to wear these costumes, but Matt Reeves never had plans to prominently feature the DC hero lookalikes. If that is what happened here, then there is still a chance that Superman and Wonder Woman are hidden in the background of some shots. The Batman's Halloween party scenes where these cameos would seemingly appear happened at night and during the rain, which can make it difficult to see every detail, especially in theaters.
Ultimately, The Batman deleting scenes referencing Superman and Wonder Woman in this fashion is probably for the best. Showing these two DC heroes in this fashion would immediately raise questions about the larger universe Robert Pattinson's Batman operates in. Matt Reeves now has the opportunity to slowly build The Batman's franchise to a place where more fantastical characters like Superman and Wonder Woman can exist. The director has made it clear that he doesn't have much of an interest in bringing the other two members of DC's Trinity to Batman's new universe too, which further explains why Superman and Wonder Woman ended up as a deleted scene for The Batman.