“The Batman” has been in German cinemas since March 3, 2022 and has been enthusiastically received by audiences and critics alike. Of course, the question arises: is “The Batman 2” coming and what could the sequel be about? Here are a few theories.
On March 3, 2022, “The Batman”, the latest film about the Dark Knight, finally started in German cinemas. So far, the comic film with Robert Pattinson in the title role has not only been well received by the critics, but has also been convincing at the box office. Of course, the big question arises: when will “The Batman 2” be coming?
The sequel has not yet received the green light. In view of the success of “The Batman”, official confirmation shouldn’t be long in coming. There’s still plenty of Dark Knight stuff that could be adapted for the big screen. “The Batman” also provides enough clues as to how part 2 could continue. And the stars of the film and director Matt Reeves have already expressed wishes for “The Batman 2”.
Here are our five theories! Warning, SPOILERS may occur.
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“The Batman 2” with Mr. Freeze?
As you can easily see from The Batman, director Matt Reeves prefers a more realistic approach to his Batman vision. This also applies to the villains: The Riddler (Paul Dano), Carmine Falcone (John Turturro) and even the penguin are staged in such a way that they could easily exist in the real world. Nevertheless, Matt Reeves is also a fan of the imaginative villains from the Batman cosmos, as he recently said during a press event.
In this context, he was particularly taken with the character of Mr. Freeze, as he revealed. Because Reves not only thinks the touching story of the villain is great. He also found it an interesting challenge to portray a character like Freeze realistically, the director said.
The last time we saw Mr. Freeze in a live-action film was in the much-hated ‘Batman & Robin.’ In it, Arnold Schwarzenegger played a particularly wacky version of the villain that didn’t exactly garner enthusiasm from fans. So it would be all the more exciting if Matt Reeves took on Mr. Freeze.
Already hinted at in “The Batman”: “Hush” comic as a possible sequel template
A deceased journalist surnamed Elliot plays a major role in The Batman. This makes real Batman comic fans sit up and take notice: In the fantastic comic arc “Batman: Hush” by Jeph Loeb, the masked hero breaks his skull in a fight with the monster killer Croc and is then treated by the renowned brain surgeon Dr. Thomas Elliot, a childhood friend of Bruce Wayne, operates. Later in the comic, which stars Poison Ivy, Superman, Catwoman, Nightwing, Two-Face, Riddler, Harley Quinn, and Ra’s al Ghul, among others, Elliot is shot and killed by the Joker. The comic is actually about a mysterious gangster with a bandaged face, who is only referred to as “Hush” by the underworld.
In the dramatic finale, it is revealed that Hush is actually Thomas Elliot, who has had a grudge against the Wayne family since he was a child. Why? Elliot wanted to murder his own parents as a child and manipulated the brakes of their car to get his inheritance. But Dr. Thomas Wayne, Bruce’s father, saves Elliot’s mother after the accident, foiling the doctor’s plan. The Batman journalist could easily be established as Thomas Elliot’s father in a sequel. Even in the movie, Thomas Wayne was directly involved with the man’s death. It would be material for a truly epic sequel, should Reeves stick to just 50 percent of the original comic.
After ‘The Batman’ Finale: Will ‘Year Zero’ Comic Be Adapted Next?
In 2013, Scott Synder and James Tynion IV recreated the Batman character in the comic world. Their comic epic “Batman: Year Zero” told a new origin story of the dark knight, which begins with a catastrophe: The Riddler has flooded all of Gotham with targeted explosions. The city is close to collapse. No question: Matt Reeves must have read this comic, because that’s how “The Batman” ends – with a biblical tidal wave that (triggered by the enigma man) should wash away the sins of the city.
So why not pick up where he left off? Reeves could now adapt the remaining storylines of “Year Zero”. In these, the ominous Red Hood gang causes chaos and horror and next to the Riddler, the criminal Doctor Death is up to mischief. Later, Gotham is even supposed to be destroyed by the military in an air raid. Batman has to fight lions in a pit and get Gotham’s power supply going again by connecting his own heart to electrodes on the main generator. Sounds crazy? Definitive. But it also sounds like great cinema.
Council of Owls and Robin are Robert Pattinson’s favorites from The Batman 2
Just like Matt Reeves, Robert Pattinson was asked in various interviews what he wanted for “The Batman 2”. The actor said in an interview with Den of Geek magazine, among other things, that he would like the Council of Owls as an antagonist in the sequel. This is a cult-like organization of owl masked criminals that has secretly ruled Gotham City for centuries. The comic template of the same name by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo was released in 2011 and could at least be a good fit for “The Batman 2” in terms of its dark tone.
According to a Collider article, Robert Pattinson would also like to see Robin appear in a sequel. Speaking at a press event in Los Angeles, the Batman actor said: “I love ‘Death in the Family’ but I think it would be so cool. People are so scared of it too, but it’s kind of exciting. I think it would be a really fun addition.” Jim Starlin and Jim Aparo’s “A Death in the Family” is one of the most controversial Batman comics of all time. Because in the 1988 story, Robin is killed by the Joker.
Will The Joker Become The Batman 2 Villain?
However, the biggest hint so far as to how things could continue comes from one of the last scenes in “The Batman”. In it, the Riddler (Paul Dano) meets his cellmate after his capture at Arkham Asylum. He doesn’t tell him his name and you can’t see his obviously disfigured face in full. But his talk of clowns and the high-pitched laugh at the end clearly indicate that the inmate is the Joker. He is not named in the credits either. But we learn that he will be played by Barry Keoghan.
The Irish actor has mainly appeared in smaller films such as “The Killing of a Sacred Deer” and “The Green Knight” and has played minor characters in blockbusters such as “Dunkirk” and most recently “Eternals”. Nevertheless, Keoghan was convincing in each of the roles, no matter how small they were. Especially in the first two films, his grandiose acting talent sent shivers down your spine. So Keoghan definitely has what it takes to be the Joker.
This article first appeared on TVSPIELFILM.de.
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