While DC fans are still trying to deduce whoThe Batman Part 2’s main villain will be,directorMatt Reeveshas finally given some more clues about Barry Keoghan’s mysterious Joker.The Joker appears very briefly inThe Batman, comforting a disheartened Riddler (Paul Dano) at Arkham Asylum. The character was given more screen time in anincredibly popular deleted scene, revealing that the iconic supervillain had been locked away in Arkham Asylum for a year, and has already encountered Robert Pattinson’s Batman.
In the comics, the Joker has had various origins stories, with the most famous being that he was a regular criminal, before accidentally being dropped into a vat of acid at ACE Chemicals (in Alan Moore’sThe Killing Joke). Most comics don’t reveal the Joker’s backstory, much like Heath Ledger’s version inThe Dark Knight,but Reeves has now teased fans with the type of Joker they can expect in the sequel.
“Barry is a wonderful actor. He’s very, very special. One of the things that we talked a lot about was the idea, that his worldview is sort of formed by his being disfigured from birth. It was kind of like a cruel joke that life was playing on him, as well.”
The Batman Part II
Reeves explained toDigital Spyhow he wants Barry Keoghan’s version of the character to put a new spin on the iconic DC Comics character. Much like Reeves re-invented Batman, Riddler, and Penguin (Colin Farrell)to suit a more grounded, realistic Gotham, so too is he giving the Joker the same treatment. Reeves continued:
“His whole philosophy of life, and the laughing that he does in that kind of insidious, upsetting way, comes from the joke that has been played on him in his existence. This is who he is, so that’s how he sees the world, so that’s our point of entry into him. It’s dealing with the themes that are Joker themes, but to try and find a different way in, a different point of entry. So that’s something we talked a lot about when we’re doing the scenes.”
Colin Farrell Wants The Penguin to Face-Off With The Joker
Matt Reeves is slowly building a lived-in Gotham City in hisThe Batmanuniverse.The Penguinexplores a new sideof Gotham City, and gives the villain his own story, separated from Batman. With the newfound freedom, Colin Farrell wants his version of Penguin to meet Keoghan’s Joker inThe Batman-verse, either as an ally, or an adversary.
“Oh, yeah, I’d love that. I thought he was fantastic, there were two scenes wasn’t there?”
The Penguin May Have Revealed Who the Villain Is in The Batman Part 2
A controversial change may have revealed who Batman will face in the sequel.
Colin Farrell and Barry Keoghan previously appeared on-screen together in Martin McDonagh’s multi-Oscar-nominatedThe Banshees of Inisherin. Farrell praised Keoghan’s commitment to all of his roles, knowing the fellow Irish actor will make an excellent Joker inThe Batman Part II. Farrell continued:
“There was the one that was in the film, then the one that was released afterwards. I thought Barry was fantastic in it, and again Mike Marino’s work was extraordinary, so creepy, so creepy. I would love to get to work with Barry on that. I just know that he’d give it a lot of consideration and a lot of work – Barry works his arse off. He’s a fantastic actor, and he gets the head down when he needs to.”
New episodes ofThe Penguinare released weekly on HBO and Max.The Batman Part IIis currently slated to release on August 24, 2025.
