It's a very exciting time to be a fan of DC Comics. Warner Bros.' DC Studios currently has titles like Supergirl, Clayface and Lanterns on the horizon as James Gunn and Peter Safran build out their plans for the relatively recent DC Universe. But there will be one project that has carried over from the previous vision for the franchise, and that is the sequel to Matt Reeves' highly-acclaimed The Batman.
Robert Pattinson's Caped Crusader proved a hit with audiences in 2022, which is one of the many reasons that The Batman - Part II is so highly-anticipated. The mystery surrounding that movie is another, with fans eager for it to come to fruition after multiple delays (and even the fear that it might be cancelled). Thankfully, the film is moving ahead, with what is shaping up to be a star-studded cast. Its most recent addition is just the newest indicator of that.
Charles Dance joins the cast of The Batman 2
Acting legend and Game of Thrones titan Charles Dance is in talks to join the cast of The Batman - Part II. According to Deadline, the star is expected to play the role of Christopher Dent, the patriarch of the Dent family and, of course, the father of Harvey Dent, a.k.a. Two-Face - who will be portrayed by Sebastian Stan in the upcoming film.
Dance is no stranger to playing patriarchs, with his most famous modern role being that of Tywin Lannister in HBO's juggernaut Game of Thrones. His commanding presence made the character a force to be reckoned with and it's clear that he will bring that to the role of Christopher Dent as well.
In the DC Comics, Christopher Dent is the abusive, mentally unstable father of Harvey and ultimately plays a pivotal role in the Batman villain's psychological issues (that are eventually exasperated by the accident to his face). In specific portrayals, the elder Dent struggles with alcoholism too, often taking out his anger on his son. If The Batman 2 goes down the comic-accurate route, the character is going to be quite the presence on our screens - which will give Dance a lot to work with. And considering his versatility across his legendary career - which expands four decades and also features roles in The Jewel in the Crown, Last Action Hero, The Crown, The Imitation Game, and Bleak House - he will have no problem making the role his own.
Speaking of the role, Christopher Dent has been associated with a number of high-profile actors over the course of the past few months, with a number of insiders reporting that Warner Bros. was eager to cast a major name in it. There were reports that it was presented to Robert De Niro, Daniel Craig, Stellan Skarsgård, and Brad Pitt - with some of them really considering it - before all of them reportedly said no. While it's unclear if there are any more roles to be cast in the film before production begins this summer, the Dent patriarch was considered the biggest casting yet to be announced.
A star-studded cast continues to grow
The Batman - Part II is shaping up to be quite a star-studded affair. Pattinson reprises his titular role from the first movie, bringing his brooding Dark Knight back to our screens for another flight through Gotham City, and he's not the only one making a comeback. He will be joined by returnees Andy Serkis, Jeffrey Wright, Colin Farrell, and Barry Keoghan, who all reprise their respective roles as Alfred Pennyworth, Commissioner James Gordon, Oz Cobb / The Penguin, and The Joker.
The three big additions come in the form of Dance, Sebastian Stan and Scarlett Johansson, who are expected to bring the Dent family to life. While it's clear that Stan is portraying Gotham City District Attorney Harvey Dent, Johansson is expected to portray his wife Gilda, and Dance as we know is his father Christopher.
This will mark another major collaboration for Johansson and Stan, who have both starred in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow and Bucky Barnes / the Winter Soldier for years - with the pair specifically appearing together in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame. Johansson's time with the franchise came to an end in 2021's Black Widow while Stan continues to appear, with his next MCU performance coming in this year's Avengers: Doomsday. Needless to say fans are excited and ready to see them on-screen again in The Batman 2.
The DC sequel is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing arrivals of 2027, and the star-studded cast is just one of the many reasons for that. The Matt Reeves saga is undoubtedly one of the most gripping portrayals of the Dark Knight's story yet and, after the success of both The Batman and spinoff The Penguin, there is no reason to think that The Batman - Part II won't deliver as well. We're ready!
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