The Batman 2: Director Talks About an Entirely New Villain
Cristin Milioti's Sofia Falcone from "The Penguin" will not be appearing in the sequel
Following the success of "The Batman", the planned sequel is undoubtedly one of the most highly anticipated superhero films. In an interview with Josh Horowitz, writer-director Matt Reeves has now revealed new details.
He believes it is important that Bruce Wayne remains clearly at the center of the story. Based on this, he and his co-writer Mattson Tomlin have selected the new antagonist. The villain is meant to delve deeply into the protagonist's life and past. However, Reeves has not yet revealed exactly who the antagonist is. He did say, though, that it is something that "has never really been done in a movie before".
These statements naturally leave plenty of room for speculation. Hugo Strange is a conceivable option, for example. The professor was one of the first villains to uncover Batman's secret identity. An appearance by Sofia Falcone, known from the spin-off series "The Penguin", has been ruled out by Reeves, however. He confirmed that Emmy-winning actress Cristin Milioti is not part of the cast.
Hopefully, more exciting details about the project will be revealed before its theatrical release. According to current plans, "The Batman 2" has a release date of October 1, 2027.
Gotham's darkest legends: The Batman villains in films and series
Batman is not only one of the most famous superheroes of all time – he is probably also the hero with the most interesting villains. Many of them have achieved cult status through their portrayal in films and series – some have even eclipsed the character of Batman himself.
The Joker
The Joker is probably the most famous Batman villain – and one of the best-known antagonists in pop culture. Every generation has its own Joker, and every interpretation brings new facets to light. While Nicholson combined madness with charm in "Batman", Heath Ledger's Joker became an anarchist terrorist in Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight". Ledger's performance was rewarded with an Academy Award. Joaquin Phoenix, on the other hand, showed the slow psychological decay of a broken man in "Joker" – in a movie that even managed without Batman. In the animated series, it was Mark Hamill who lent the Joker his iconic, hysterical voice and is still a fan favorite to this day.
The Penguin
The Penguin is not usually a supernatural adversary, but a criminal mastermind with style – and a deformed appearance. Danny DeVito played him in Tim Burton's "Batman Returns". And in "The Batman", Colin Farrell could be seen as the ice-cold, cynical gangster boss. His performance was so convincing that the spin-off series "The Penguin" was even dedicated to him.
Two-Face
Two-Face is perhaps the most tragic Batman villain: once Harvey Dent, prosecutor and beacon of hope – then, disfigured after an attack, torn apart inside and driven by a thirst for revenge. Tommy Lee Jones' version in "Batman Forever" was comic-like. Aaron Eckhart in "The Dark Knight" was completely different: his transformation from upright prosecutor to merciless judge was shockingly realistic.
Bane
In "The Dark Knight Rises", Bane was portrayed by Tom Hardy as a cold, calculating revolutionary who not only uses brute force, but also strategy. His iconic voice made him a formidable villain. Bane was the one who pushed Batman to his limits physically and mentally.
Scarecrow & Ra's al Ghul
Scarecrow is one of the underrated but consistently present enemies in the "Dark Knight" trilogy. Cillian Murphy gave him a quiet menace. In "Batman Begins", Ra's al Ghul appeared as a mentor and later adversary – played by Liam Neeson with calm authority and philosophical fanaticism. His concept: to save the world through destruction. A dangerous mixture of ideology and intelligence that makes him an interesting opponent.
The Riddler
The Riddler is Batman's intellectual adversary – obsessed with riddles and his own brilliance. While Jim Carrey embodied him as a garish madman, "The Batman" went in a different direction: Paul Dano played him as a disturbing serial killer – a dark and frighteningly realistic version, in keeping with the tone of the film.
