The staggering success of The Batman proved there was a massive audience for a detective-driven take on the Caped Crusader, and the subsequent acclaim for its spinoff series, The Penguin, solidified Matt Reeves’ vision as a vital corner of DC storytelling. That means even though the mainline DC Universe prepares to launch its own Batman, Reeves’ grounded Elseworlds universe will continue to exist independently. After weathering numerous production delays, the much-anticipated sequel, The Batman – Part II, is finally moving forward, with a completed script from Reeves and Mattson Tomlin and filming scheduled to begin this spring.
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While specific plot details of The Batman – Part II are being kept under lock and key, Reeves himself has given fans a tantalizing clue about the identity of the next major foe, teasing that he will use a villain who hasn’t “really been done in a film before.” That single statement immediately narrows the field of potential antagonists, though it almost certainly discounts animated features. After all, nearly every member of Batman’s rogues’ gallery has appeared in the vast library of DC animated movies or in projects like The LEGO Batman Movie.
The careful phrasing from Reeves, particularly the word “really,” could also suggest he is open to reinterpreting a villain who has only had a brief cameo in a past film, or that he intends to put a radically different spin on a more established character. Nevertheless, even taking the most straightforward interpretation and considering only live-action film history, that clue already excludes at least 15 notable villains. That number does not even count The Riddler (Paul Dano), who was the primary threat of the first film, The Penguin (Colin Farrell), who is set to return in some capacity, or Catwoman (Zoë Kravitz), who is not a villain in the Reevesverse.
15) Clayface
The shape-shifting villain Clayface is officially off the table, as DC Studios is already deep in production on a solo film centered on the character. This upcoming movie, scheduled for a September 2026 release, is part of the primary DCU canon and is being developed as a body-horror thriller. While there have been live-action television versions of the character in shows like Gotham and Pennyworth, the upcoming film will be his first major theatrical appearance. The project, produced by Reeves’ own production company, will focus on the Matt Hagen (Tom Rhys Harries) version of the character, an actor who turns to a transformative scientific experiment after being disfigured in an accident. This ensures that the definitive big-screen introduction of Clayface will happen firmly outside of The Batman’s continuity.
14) Calendar Man
Julian Day, the villain obsessed with dates and holidays, has already made his live-action film debut, albeit in a very minor role. The character appeared briefly in James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad, where he was an inmate at Belle Reve prison. In a memorable cameo, Calendar Man (played by Sean Gunn) was seen taunting Polka-Dot Man (David Dastmalchian) in his cell. This appearance, though small, counts as a live-action cinematic portrayal, effectively removing him from the running for the main villain in The Batman – Part II. While Reeves’ “never really been done” comment could technically apply to a character with such a brief screen time, it is highly unlikely that a villain known for his often campy nature would be the choice for the dark and serious tone of this universe.
13) Deathstroke
The deadly assassin Slade Wilson has appeared in the DC Extended Universe, portrayed by Joe Manganiello. He was first seen in a post-credits scene of the theatrical cut of Justice League, where he was meeting with Lex Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg). Manganiello reprised the role in Zack Snyder’s Justice League, appearing in the restored post-credits scene and as part of Batman’s Knightmare future team. At one point, Deathstroke was slated to be the main antagonist in a solo Batman film starring Ben Affleck, and a standalone Deathstroke movie was also in development. Although these projects were ultimately shelved, the character has been firmly established in a recent live-action cinematic universe.
12) Joker
The Joker is the most depicted comic book villain in cinema history, ruling him out immediately based on Reeves’ criteria. The character has a long and storied live-action history, beginning with Cesar Romero’s campy portrayal in the 1966 Batman movie. After that, Jack Nicholson delivered an iconic performance in Tim Burton’s 1989 Batman. Then, Heath Ledger won a posthumous Academy Award for his revolutionary take in The Dark Knight, a performance that redefined the character for a generation.
More recently, Jared Leto played a controversial version in Suicide Squad and Zack Snyder’s Justice League, and Joaquin Phoenix earned a Best Actor Oscar for the standalone origin story Joker. Furthermore, a version of the Joker, played by Barry Keoghan, already exists within Reeves’ universe, having appeared in a deleted scene and a brief cameo at the end of The Batman. While he may have a larger role in the future, he cannot be the new villain who has never been done before.
11) Two-Face
Harvey Dent’s tragic transformation into the villainous Two-Face has been a cornerstone of Batman’s cinematic history, making him ineligible as a “new” villain. The character first appeared in live-action as District Attorney Harvey Dent, played by Billy Dee Williams, in 1989’s Batman. While Williams never got the chance to portray the villainous side, Tommy Lee Jones brought an over-the-top version of Two-Face to the screen in Batman Forever. The definitive cinematic portrayal for many remains Aaron Eckhart’s performance in The Dark Knight, which grounded the character’s downfall in a compelling narrative arc. Most recently, a version of Harvey Dent, played by Harry Lawtey, appeared in Joker: Folie à Deux as the prosecuting attorney in Arthur Fleck’s trial. With multiple, high-profile film adaptations already in his past, Two-Face has been thoroughly “done” on the big screen.
10) Ra’s al Ghul and Talia al Ghul
The immortal leader of the League of Shadows and his formidable daughter have both played crucial roles in a previous Batman film franchise, disqualifying them from consideration. Liam Neeson famously portrayed Ra’s al Ghul in Batman Begins, serving as Bruce Wayne’s (Christian Bale) mentor before revealing himself as the film’s main antagonist. Talia al Ghul also made her cinematic debut in The Dark Knight Rises, played by Marion Cotillard. She initially appeared as a philanthropist and ally to Bruce Wayne before her true identity as Ra’s’ daughter and the mastermind behind Bane’s plot was revealed. With both the patriarch and the heir of the League of Shadows having served as main antagonists in one of cinema’s most successful trilogies, they are firmly off the table.
9) Harley Quinn
Few modern villains have had a bigger cinematic impact than Harley Quinn, ruling her out completely. Margot Robbie’s definitive take on the character was a breakout star of 2016’s Suicide Squad, and she went on to lead her own film, Birds of Prey, before returning in The Suicide Squad. The character’s immense popularity led to another high-profile adaptation in Joker: Folie à Deux, where Lady Gaga portrayed a new version of the character named Lee Quinzel, a fellow inmate at Arkham who forms a relationship with Arthur Fleck.
8) Killer Croc
The reptilian villain Waylon Jones made his live-action movie debut in David Ayer’s Suicide Squad. In that film, Killer Croc was portrayed by Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as a member of the titular team, forced to use his superhuman strength and abilities for Amanda Waller’s (Viola Davis) Task Force X. This significant on-screen presence means Killer Croc is an unlikely choice for the grounded world of The Batman and Reeves’ specific villain criteria.
7) Deadshot
The expert marksman Floyd Lawton was a central character in 2016’s Suicide Squad, where he was played by Will Smith. As one of the main protagonists of the film, Deadshot was given a significant backstory and a primary role in the team’s dynamic and action sequences. This prominent role in a major blockbuster film firmly places Deadshot in the category of Batman villains who have been thoroughly adapted for the big screen.
6) Poison Ivy
The eco-terrorist Pamela Isley has had one live-action film appearance, portrayed by Uma Thurman in the 1997 film Batman & Robin. Her version of Poison Ivy was a highlight of the notoriously campy movie, featuring a classic origin story where a brilliant botanist is betrayed and left for dead with her own chemical concoctions, only to reemerge with plant-based powers. Though the film itself is often derided, Thurman’s performance is iconic and represents a full-fledged role for the character as a primary antagonist. Poison Ivy has also been a recurring character in live-action on the television series Gotham, further cementing her presence outside of the comics.
5) Victor Zsasz
The tally-marking serial killer Victor Zsasz has made multiple appearances in live-action, including in two separate film universes. His cinematic debut was a small role in Batman Begins, where he was played by Tim Booth as one of the criminals released from Arkham Asylum. More recently, Victor Zsasz played a much larger role in the DCEU film Birds of Prey. Portrayed by Chris Messina, the movie portrayed him as the sadistic right-hand man to the main villain, Black Mask (Ewan McGregor), and a formidable threat to Harley Quinn and her team. The character has also been a recurring presence on television in shows like Gotham and Batwoman.
4) Black Mask
The brutal Gotham City crime boss Roman Sionis was the primary antagonist in the 2020 DCEU film Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn). Played with menacing glee by Ewan McGregor, this version of Black Mask was a narcissistic and unhinged nightclub owner with a penchant for gruesome violence who sought to take over the city’s criminal underworld. Having already served as the main villain in a high-profile DC movie, Black Mask is not a candidate for The Batman – Part II.
3) Bane
Bane is a physically imposing and intellectually brilliant villain known for “breaking the bat.” His first appearance was in Batman & Robin, where he was played by Robert “Jeep” Swenson as a mindless, Venom-fueled henchman for Poison Ivy. This version was a far cry from his comic book origins as a master strategist. The character was completely reinvented for The Dark Knight Rises, where Tom Hardy delivered a now-iconic performance. This Bane was a formidable physical threat and a cunning revolutionary who brought Gotham to its knees. This powerful and central role as the main antagonist of a critically and commercially successful film makes Bane one of the most well-known modern Batman movie villains, placing him far outside the category of unused characters.
2) Scarecrow
Dr. Jonathan Crane and his fear-toxin-induced alter ego were a cornerstone of Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy. Cillian Murphy portrayed the Scarecrow in all three films, making him one of the most consistently present villains in any Batman series. In Batman Begins, he served as a primary antagonist, working alongside Ra’s al Ghul to unleash his fear toxin on Gotham. He returned for memorable cameo appearances in both The Dark Knight, where he was apprehended by Batman in the opening sequence, and The Dark Knight Rises, where he presided over a twisted form of court during Bane’s occupation of the city. This extensive and defining cinematic portrayal across an entire trilogy means the character has been thoroughly explored on film.
1) Mr. Freeze
Despite being one of Batman’s most popular and tragic foes, Victor Fries has only had one live-action cinematic appearance. Arnold Schwarzenegger portrayed the cryogenically-suited scientist in 1997’s Batman & Robin, in a performance that was defined by a plethora of ice-related puns and a sympathetic, if campy, motivation to save his terminally ill wife. While the film was a critical failure, Schwarzenegger’s Mr. Freeze was the main villain and a massive pop-culture presence, making him ineligible to be the fresh face teased by Matt Reeves, a fact that will surely disappoint many fans hoping for a modern take on the character.
Who do you think Matt Reeves was teasing as the new villain for The Batman – Part II? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!
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