After the release of Matt Reeves' The Batman, fans were counting down the days until the release of the next project in the beloved DC franchise that would return us to the twisted, bleak, and violent streets of Gotham City. But while The Penguin series made that wish come true, it has been over three years since we last saw the Caped Crusader take matters into his own hands. The worst part? There's still a lengthy wait ahead for us before his return. Unfortunately, Bruce Wayne's upcoming adventure was met with multiple delays, which even made us wonder whether it would see the light of day.
Fortunately, after months of uncertainty, the script for The Batman Part II is officially finished. Now, it's just a matter of time before DC gives us a glimpse behind the curtain and unveils what the movie will be about. Meanwhile, rumors have already started running amok, and one of the most prevailing reports being that a beloved Batman villain will finally make his big-screen debut. But is there any truth behind this? Well, James Gunn finally commented on the matter, but he unfortunately didn't give too much away.
James Gunn on The Batman Part II Hush rumors: '[It's] made up'
The first-ever Batman live-action movie was released all the way back in 1966. Since then, Bruce Wayne has gone up against no shortage of enemies on the big screen. However, Hush has yet to be one of them.
While Thomas Elliot doesn't have the same level of popularity as Bane or the Joker, he is the star of one of the most iconic Batman comics in the form of Batman: Hush. As such, fans have been eager to see him steal the spotlight, and rumors even circulated that he'd be the main antagonist of The Batman Part II. However, when a fan asked James Gunn if there was any truth behind these reports, he responded with: "Again everything you've heard is a total guess or made up."
At first glance, Gunn's comments would seem to indicate that Hush won't have a role in The Batman Part II. However, he's not denying the villain's involvement; he's simply stating that every rumor so far must be made up. So, does that mean there's still a chance for Thomas to appear in the franchise down the line? Well, there are hints to suggest that might be the case.
During episode 3 of The Penguin, audiences revisit the night that The Riddler blew up Gotham's seawall, and eagle-eyed viewers were able to spot a sign that reads "Elliot Bridge". Production designer Kalina Ivanov later confirmed that the naming was intentional and more than a simple coincidence, which all but confirms that the Elliot family already exists in Matt Reeves' Batman universe.
It's important to remember that Robert Pattinson's Bruce Wayne will only face villains grounded in reality, as the Elseworld he's a part of doesn't have any supernatural elements. With that in mind, the chances of seeing someone like Hush as the main antagonist are high, especially given that he has yet to make his big screen debut (meaning he wouldn't need to be written differently from any other live-action adaptation) and he's a well-known Batman villain.
Of course, it's worth highlighting that the Court of Owls would also be perfect for the world Matt Reeves crafted, and they have been increasingly making more appearances in recent Batman projects. Nonetheless, both the Court of Owls and Hush could steal the spotlight in different projects, considering that The Penguin Season 2 is a "possibility". So, with a bit of luck, this Batman franchise will last long enough for fans to see many of their favorite villains wreak havoc in Gotham City.
The Batman Part II will be released on Oct. 1, 2027.
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