Following the news that Scarlett Johansson is in final talks for a role in The Batman Part II, it has now been revealed that an Oscar-winning actor was first offered the role. After a long delay, The Batman sequel is finally coming together with some exciting recent developments. Johansson's discussions to join the production was the biggest casting news so far, but the movie almost starred another huge name.
Insider Jeff Sneider has reported that Johansson's unknown role in The Batman Part II was first offered to Emma Stone. While there is no confirmation from the studio, filmmakers, or Stone herself, Sneider suggests that Stone passed on the role after failing to agree on a salary. Johansson, who was recently cast in the new The Exorcist movie, reportedly pursued the role after learning that Stone dropped out.
While it is still unknown which role Johansson will be playing in The Batman Part II, it has been rumored that she will be a villain in the sequel. Director Matt Reeves recently stated that film would feature a Batman villain who has not appeared in a movie before. It is also reported that Johansson's role will be the main female character in the movie, with Zoë Kravitz's Selina Kyle not returning for the sequel.
Johansson would be the first new cast member to join The Batman, with Reeves back as director. Among the returning cast members, Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne/Batman, Jeffrey Wright as Jim Gordon, Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth, and Colin Farrell as The Penguin will all be back. It is unknown if Paul Dano and Barry Keoghan will reprise their villainous roles as The Riddler and The Joker, respectively.
Emma Stone continues to avoid blockbusters
While the casting of Emma Stone in The Batman Part II would have been an exciting prospect, it is also not surprising that she passed on the role. Indeed, Stone was still an up-and-coming actor when she appeared as Gwen Stacy in The Amazing Spider-Man movies alongside Andrew Garfield. Since then, however, she has largely kept her distance from blockbuster movies.
Stone has made a name for herself by taking on versatile and challenging roles with bold filmmakers, including her frequent collaborator Yorgos Lanthimos. It has led to great success with Stone earning two Oscar wins and another three nominations. She has remained one of the biggest stars in Hollywood despite avoiding the bigger franchises.
Apart from returning for the sequel Zombieland: Double Tap, Stone hasn't sought out such roles. In fact, The Batman is reportedly not the first superhero movie she has turned down. She was reportedly sought for the villainous role of Cheetah in Wonder Woman 1984 as well as the role of Sue Storm in The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
Few actors have been able to maintain the same level of fame that Stone has without being attached to massive blockbusters. However, if it continues to work out as successfully as it has so far for her, it may be a while before we see Stone in any kind of superhero movie.