2026 is finally here, which means we're nearing the four-year mark since the release of Matt Reeves' The Batman. Audiences worldwide got to experience one of the Caped Crusader's most memorable adventures on the big screen, only to be left wondering how long it would take for Robert Pattinson's Bruce Wayne to suit up once again. The highly anticipated sequel was unfortunately delayed more than once, and although HBO Max's The Penguin filled a bit of this gap, we're still craving more. But even if 2026 marks nearly half a decade since the first installment in the franchise was released, it's also the last year we'll live through without returning to Matt Reeves' twisted version of Gotham City.
At long last, The Batman - Part II is starting to feel like a reality. Set to release on Oct. 1, 2027, the highly anticipated DC Elseworlds movie finally has a completed script and will undergo shooting in Spring 2026. As production draws closer, fans have begun to catch a glimpse behind the curtains and receive small tidbits of information about what's to come.
First, news broke that Scarlett Johansson is in talks to join the cast of The Batman - Part II in an undisclosed role. Furthermore, it has been reported that Sebastian Stan could act opposite Robert Pattinson. But if that weren't enough, then one of DC's most dreadful villains ever created could wreak havoc in the movie as well.
Barry Keoghan's Joker will reportedly appear in The Batman - Part II
All it takes is one bad day to reduce the sanest man alive to lunacy, and that day might come on Oct. 1, 2027. Variety has reported that Barry Keoghan's Joker is expected to appear in The Batman - Part II, after making a very brief appearance in the first installment of the franchise. Everyone in Gotham City believed the worst was over once The Riddler was captured and sent to Arkham. However, Edward Nashton made a friend in the form of another inmate who won't turn down the opportunity to drive Batman insane.
While audiences caught just a glimpse of Barry Keoghan's Joker in The Batman, a deleted scene eventually made its way online and gave us a better look at this iteration of the Clown Prince of Crime. Even then, we never got to see the terrifying villain in his entirety, as he was hidden behind blurry shots and close-ups that merely teased his horrifying final design. As such, the idea of finally watching the Joker break loose in the sequel is nothing short of exciting.
Now, the biggest question in store is whether The Joker will be the star villain of The Batman - Part II, or if he'll be relegated to a secondary antagonist. Well, during an interview with Josh Horowitz, Director Matt Reeves teased that the main bad guy of the sequel hasn't really been adapted in a theatrical movie before (or, at least, not in the way Matt will attempt to do so):
"Picking the right villain that digs into what [Bruce] does, that sort of goes into his past and his life, that was what drove that discussion. And I won't tell you where we ended up, but we're super excited about it. And I will say it's never really been done in a movie before, so we're excited."
The Joker has been the main star of many Batman movies and projects at this point, and while it's still possible to do new things with the character, it seems Matt wants to shine the spotlight on someone else entirely. If we're about to dive into Bruce's past, could we finally get a live-action adaptation of Hush? After all, Sebastian Stan could certainly play the role of Thomas Elliot. Besides, it's astonishing how many live-action Batman films have been made up to this point, and yet every single one of them has shied away from the iconic villain.
The Batman - Part II could shape up to be an adaptation of the Batman: Hush comic book storyline, where the Joker also has a role to play (and is nearly killed by Batman). So even if Thomas Elliot ends up acting as the main antagonist, there's also room for the Clown Prince of Crime to terrorize audiences worldwide once more, and we wouldn't want it any other way.
The Batman - Part II will be released on Oct. 1, 2027.