The Batman Part IImay be a long time away from hitting theaters after its postponement to late 2027, but work has already begun on the highly anticipated sequel. On the heels of The Batman and The Penguin, Matt Reeves is hard at work on the script for the next installment, which will now be labeled an Elseworlds project under the larger banner of James Gunn's DCU.
The lack of news on The Batman Part II hasn't stopped fans from theorizing about the new film, especially regarding which villain might feature in it. Many fans were convinced that the shapeshifting supervillain Clayface would appear in the sequel but the DCU's recently announced Clayface movie officially rules the antagonist out for the Epic Crime Saga. With Clayface out of the running, these villains could emerge as the next big bad to take on the Dark Knight.
Dr. Victor Fries was a scientist who never meant to fall into a life of villainy. Desperate to find a cure for his dying wife, Dr. Fries has her cryogenically frozen, but a lab accident causes him to be wounded. Now forced to live in sub-zero temperatures himself, Fries becomes the supervillain, Mr. Freeze, using a cold gun to commit heinous crimes throughout Gotham City. However, unlike other Batman villains, his ultimate goal isn't wealth or power, but to save the woman he loves.
Mr. Freeze has gradually become far more popular in the years since Arnold Schwarzenegger played him in Batman and Robin. Thanks in large part to his depiction in Batman: The Animated Series, Mr. Freeze has been reinvented as a tragic figure who commits heinous crimes all in the name of love. Such a complicated character would be perfect to bring to life in Matt Reeves' Batman universe. The character is just grounded enough to work in the Epic Crime Saga while bringing a bit of science fiction into the franchise.
Dr. Pamela Isley was a plant-loving botanist who was nearly poisoned to death, only to develop a supernatural immunity to all poisons and toxins. Later gaining the ability to control plant life, Isley becomes the supervillain Poison Ivy, using her powers to take revenge against men and, in some cases, cover the world with plants instead of humans. She has developed a series of other powers in the years since her villainous turn, including a toxic kiss that kills anyone unfortunate enough to plant a peck on her poisoned lips.
Uma Thurman portrayed Poison Ivy in Batman and Robin, marking the character's last live-action appearance in almost thirty years. However, The Batman may have already set up Poison Ivy's long-awaited return. After the massive flood at the end of the first movie, Gotham could be teeming with new plant life springing from the dilapidated and abandoned buildings left destroyed by the raging waters. This would be the perfect setting to introduce Poison Ivy, who could use the foliage to her advantage in a fight against Robert Pattinson's Batman.
The Court of Owls May Be Behind Everything Going on in Gotham
The Secret Council Behind Gotham May Play a Big Role in The Batman Part II
The Court of Owls is a mysterious group of masked individuals who act as a kind of "Gotham City Illuminati." Made up of the wealthiest and most influential citizens of Gotham, the Court of Owls works in the shadows to influence the development of their city. The Court of Owls has existed since the founding of Gotham, remaining undiscovered for centuries. They carry out their will with the help of a legion of secret agents known as "Talons," who do the dirty work the members of the council would never do themselves.
Even before The Batman came out, fans were theorizing that the Epic Crime Saga was building up to the Court of Owls. The grounded and subtle nature of this secret council would fit perfectly in Matt Reeves' gritty Batman franchise. It could be revealed that the widespread corruption discovered in the first film was merely an extension of this clandestine clan of criminals. Devoid of superpowers or other over-the-top comic book qualities, the Court of Owls would fit perfectly in this more grounded DC world, making them a perfect choice to appear in The Batman Part II.
Sofia Falcone Is a Fan-Favorite Villain From The Penguin
The Penguin introduced a new criminal to the streets of Gotham City in Sofia Falcone. Portrayed by Cristin Milioti, Sofia is the daughter of Carmine Falcone, a noted mobster who manipulated Gotham from the shadows for years. After discovering that her father was also the mysterious Hangman killer, Sofia was framed for Carmine's murders and sent to Arkham Asylum. Shortly after her father's death, Sofia returned with designs on taking over his enterprise. However, she was betrayed by Oz Cobb and sent back to Arkham by the end of the series.
Sofia Falcone was a breakout character in The Penguin's first season, leaving fans with hope that she could appear in other projects within the Epic Crime Saga. The Penguin teased that Sofia could connect with her half-sister, Selina Kyle, which could occur in The Batman Part II. The upcoming sequel could feature the long-awaited team-up between Sofia and Selina, which might spark the ire of Gotham City's Caped Crusader.
Matt Reeves Could Craft an Excellent Scarecrow
The Ruler of Fear Would Make a Terrific Villain in the Reeves-Verse
The Scarecrow, a.k.a. Dr. Jonathan Crane, is one of the most iconic supervillains in Batman's rogues gallery. After developing a potent fear gas that makes people see their greatest dreads, the Scarecrow donned a horrific mask to underline the criminal theme. He has tangled with Batman many times over the years, proving to be a truly dangerous criminal mastermind with no qualms about forever traumatizing his victims.
Although the Scarecrow has been adapted in live-action numerous times, the Epic Crime Saga needs a villain like him. Matt Reeves has demonstrated a specialty in getting to the core of Batman's most iconic villains, making him the perfect director to perfect the live-action Scarecrow. Reeves could craft the definitive version of the Scarecrow in his universe, who would certainly be the toughest opponent that Robert Pattinson's Batman has ever faced.
At the end of The Batman, audiences get their first look at this universe's version of the Joker. Played by Barry Keoghan (Saltburn, Eternals), the Joker is a prisoner at Arkham Asylum, where he meets the newly arrested Edward Nigma, a.k.a. the Riddler. Joker comforts the Riddler as he laments the failure of his plan, teasing that the two villains could team up in a future movie.
It has been confirmed that the Joker will appear in The Batman Part II, though it is unclear whether or not he will be the film's main villain. Fans may be a bit tired of the Joker after numerous live-action appearances in recent years, but Keoghan deserves a chance to prove himself as the iconic Batman villain. The Batman Part II could give audiences the best version of the Joker since The Dark Knight, this time with a greater adherence to the character's comic book depictions.
Two-Face Is a Grounded Villain Worthy of the Reeves-Verse
Harvey Dent Could Factor Into Matt Reeves' Trilogy
Harvey Dent is Gotham City's District Attorney who started with a genuine desire to rid his home of the rampant crime that has plagued it for generations. However, after suffering catastrophic burns on half of his face, Dent descended into madness, becoming the villain Two-Face. After years of fighting crime, Dent became a criminal mastermind, challenging the duality (and two-facedness) of Gotham City's largest institutions.
The Caped Crusader has an extensive Rogues Gallery of villains to battle, but the best of his adversaries all share one important characteristic.
Harvey Dent is an over-the-top yet firmly grounded villain in Batman's Rogues Gallery--the exact kind of character that Matt Reeves seems drawn to in crafting the Epic Crime Saga. The Batman Part II could chart Harvey Dent's rise and fall, as he goes from Gotham City's greatest hero to one of the worst criminals it has ever known. There is still room to play with this character even after multiple live-action appearances, making him a natural choice as the next big bad that Robert Pattinson's Batman faces.
Killer Croc Has Never Fought Batman In Live-Action
The Batman Part II Could Shake Up Its Rogues Gallery
Killer Croc is, as his name might imply, a physically intimidating villain who is half-crocodile, half-man. Known to live in Gotham City's sewer system, Killer Croc preys on unsuspecting citizens, killing and devouring them. He presents an incredible physical challenge for the heroes of Gotham City, particularly Batman.
After the massive flood that almost wiped out Gotham, the city is vulnerable to aquatic villains like Killer Croc. While The Batman was much more grounded than other Batman movies, the second part could take a hard left turn into the more over-the-top fantasy elements of the comic book world it inhabits. Killer Croc would be a step up for Robert Pattinson's Batman, who would face the challenge of a lifetime bringing this scaly supervillain to justice.
The Penguin Is One of Gotham City's Most Interesting Characters
After His Solo Series, the Penguin Needs to Come Back
Colin Farrell shines as Oz Cobb, a mobster who worked for Carmine Falcone during the events of The Batman. After Falcone's fall, Oz made a play at taking over Gotham City's criminal underworld during the events of his spinoff series, The Penguin. In a series of shocking and violent acts, Oz triggered a mob war that resulted in the permanent destruction of the Falcone and Maroni crime families. After taking Sofia Falcone off the map, Oz was left without any competitors, rising to the top of Gotham City's underworld as his new alter-ego, the Penguin.
Despite the success of the spinoff series, it seems unlikely that The Penguin Season 2 is coming anytime soon. As such, The Batman Part II can continue Oz's story, showing what has become of Gotham City's underworld since he took over. Batman found that Carmine Falcone was a much more desirable leader of the underworld than someone like Oz Cobb, who has fewer qualms about manipulating the citizens of Gotham.
The Batman Franchise Is Teasing Hush
All Signs Point to Hush Joning the Batman Franchise
Hush is a terrifying Batman villain known for his grisly murders. Tommy Elliot was a childhood friend of Bruce Wayne who developed a longstanding hatred for the Waynes after they foiled his murder attempt on his own father. Growing into a psychopathic murderer, Tommy adopted the moniker of Hush. After learning Batman's true identity, Hush devotes himself to destroying both of Bruce Wayne's identities, even getting plastic surgery to look just like his old childhood friend.
The Epic Crime Saga has been teasing Hush's appearance, implying that he could be the main villain of The Batman Part II. The Penguin made several references to the Elliot family, confirming that Tommy Elliot already exists somewhere in Gotham. A brutal killer like Hush is the perfect adversary to push the limits of Batman's crimefighting crusade in a sequel. He challenges everything that Batman believes about himself and about his city, which would craft an interesting rivalry with which to follow the Batman's recent battle with the Riddler.
