Few superheroes have a rogues’ gallery as iconic as Batman. Over the years, the Dark Knight has crossed paths with several memorable villains, including the Joker, the Riddler, the Penguin, and Two-Face. That embarrassment of riches means Batman film adaptations have plenty of options to choose from when it comes to selecting a compelling adversary to build the film around. However, this is also a double-edged sword. Batman’s villains are such fascinating figures, at times Batman himself is overshadowed in the movies, as the antagonists and their arcs become more of a narrative focus. As The Batman Part II gears up to start production, director Matt Reeves is addressing that.
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Speaking with MTV’s Josh Horowitz on the Emmys red carpet, Reeves teased how The Batman Part II‘s villain factors into the sequel’s story, which he wants to keep focused on Bruce Wayne. “The way [The Batman] ended, it was leaving us on the precipice … and also the way that events happened in [The Penguin] … that there is an exploration to be had, and one of the explorations for me was to do something that pushes even further into the character of Bruce Wayne,” he said. “Because the first story is so much about the Batman … I always wanted the movies to be focused on his character. A lot of the other films — which I love — once you get past the origin tale … then you start telling the rogues’ gallery story and that character’s sort of arc. And I never wanted to lose [Robert Pattinson] as the center of these stories. And so that is really what we set our aim on … picking the right villain that digs into what that does and sort of goes into his past and his life, that was what drove that discussion.”
What Matt Reeves’ Villain Tease Means For The Batman Part II
Some of the best comic book adaptations of all time have been Batman movies, but some viewers have felt that even in the critically acclaimed films, Bruce himself is a static character who gets overshadowed by a standout villain. A memorable antagonist is a key ingredient for a successful Batman movie, but the focus should still be on the title character. Audiences saw Reeves’ approach in The Batman, as the Riddler exposed corruption involving high-profile Gotham City figures — including Thomas and Martha Wayne. This forced Bruce to confront his feelings about such revelations as he tried to be the hero Gotham needed him to be.
Reeves stopped short of revealing who The Batman Part II‘s main villain will be, but there’s enough in his comments to spark a new wave of fan theories. The director has already said the sequel attempts something that’s “never been done” in a Batman movie before, suggesting that perhaps the villain will be someone who hasn’t factored into the live-action films before. That, combined with Reeves’ tease about doing a deep dive into Bruce’s past and life, could mean Hush is part of the narrative. Hush, aka Thomas Elliot, was Bruce’s childhood friend who has a long-standing grudge against the Wayne family.
Rumors have purported that The Batman Part II will feature Hush, speculation that DC Studios co-head James Gunn addressed last month. Gunn didn’t confirm or deny the rumor, just saying that anything being published about The Batman Part II is “a total guess or made up” since so few people have read the script. There’s always the possibility Hush could be the villain and that guess was correct. He’s an antagonist who would fit in the more grounded version of Gotham Reeves has created, setting his franchise apart from the comic book sensibilities of the DC Universe. Perhaps Hush could partner up with the Penguin or another criminal to make Bruce’s life a living hell.
Hopefully, fans will learn more about what Reeves has in store in the not-too-distant future. The Batman Part II will reportedly be casting this fall ahead of production beginning in the spring. Once new actors join the project, perhaps the filmmakers will shed light on who the villain will be. Confirming the villain’s identity could go a long way in getting ahead of any leaks or set photos that will pop up during principal photography.
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