Matt Reeves recently described the antagonist for The Batman Part 2 as someone who “has never really been done in a movie before,” a comment that rules out a long list of well-known Batman villains and focuses attention on less familiar or more unusual antagonists for the sequel.
Reeves remarked upon an episode of the Happy Sad Confused podcast, where he suggested the film will go in a different direction for its central foe. The podcast episode appears here: Happy Sad Confused.
A large number of headline villains would be excluded if the director means what he said. A short list of prominent names that now seem unlikely includes:
- Joker
- Harley Quinn
- Poison Ivy
- Bane
- Mr. Freeze
- Two-Face
- Scarecrow
- Ra’s al Ghul
- Talia al Ghul
- Deathstroke
- Deadshot
- Killer Croc
- Black Mask
- Clayface
A smaller pool of less frequently adapted adversaries could fill the gap. Among the possibilities mentioned by outlets and fans are:
- Hush
- Hugo Strange
- Red Hood
- Mad Hatter
- Solomon Grundy
- The Court of Owls
- Man-Bat
- Firefly
- Victor Zsasz
A grounded tone has guided previous Reevesverse choices, so several of those names may be less likely if the film maintains a realistic approach. Hugo Strange, Hush or The Court of Owls would fit a gritty, investigative story more readily than characters like Man-Bat or Mad Hatter. Fans should note that an unusual or rarely filmed villain can still be adapted to suit a particular cinematic world.
Interest will remain high as more details emerge about casting, tone, and the identity of the antagonist, and any clarification from Reeves or the film’s team will narrow the field further.
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