Everything about Matt Reeves’ The Batman: Part II is shrouded in secrecy. But World of Reel has compiled a list of rumors that taken together suggest an intriguing narrative direction. Additionally, based on the themes established in the first film and recent casting announcements, many fans are speculating that the new movie’s plot will draw heavily from The Long Halloween comic.
Cover image from Batman: The Long Halloween – Tim Sale, DC Comics
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The 13-issue series written by Jeph Loeb and drawn by Tim Sale is one of the most iconic and influential Batman stories of all time. Now, The Batman: Part II may bring some of its key moments to life.
Casting Rumors
The first rumor World of Reel mentions comes from The InSneider, which claims the movie will feature Harvey Dent (Two-Face); his wife, Gilda; and Dent’s father. Adding fuel to the fire, another scooper, ViewerAnon, also hinted that Two-Face would be in The Batman: Part II.
Hope you don’t put a Dent in my Friday
— ViewerAnon (@ViewerAnon) December 12, 2025
A week before these rumors started circulating, Deadline reported that Scarlett Johansson was close to signing on for an unspecified role in the DC Elseworlds movie. With the more grounded take of Reeves’ Batman universe, a fantastic character like Poison Ivy seemed unlikely. Many speculated she would play Andrea Beaumont from the animated film Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, which fits well with The Batman’s focus on organized crime.
Black Widow/Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) in Marvel Studios‘ BLACK WIDOW, in theaters and on Disney+ with Premier Access. Photo by Jay Maidment. ©Marvel Studios 2021. All Rights Reserved.
Things seemed to fall into place when when veteran entertainment journalist Kris Tapley made a post on X with side-by-side images of Johansson and Gilda Dent and a “shocked eyes” emoji.
— Kris Tapley (@kristapley) December 13, 2025
Though it’s hardly close to a confirmation, all the clues make a strong case for a Dent family-focused story. Reeves, who also wrote the script in addition to returning to the director’s chair, has promised that the central villain would be someone never before seen in live-action and that the plot would not be just a “serial killer” story.
Johansson is the right age for Gilda Dent, and the character would fulfill Reeves’ promises. More importantly, in The Long Halloween Gilda becomes the villainess Holiday, who isn’t just a serial killer.
Key Themes
At the start of The Long Halloween, Batman, District Attorney Harvey Dent, and Captain James Gordon join forces in secret to take down the Falcone crime family. However, starting on Halloween, someone begins killing one of Gotham’s major criminals every following holiday (Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s, etc.).
The murders ignite a war between the city’s major gangs, as each side suspects the other of being behind the murders. In the process, Harvey Dent’s mental health begins to deteriorate, and after having acid thrown in his face, he finally breaks, becoming Two-Face.
Aaron Eckhart as Two-Face in The Dark Knight (2008), Warner Bros. Pictures
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On Labor Day, Batman captures Alberto Falcone, who was assumed to be dead before the holiday killings started. Alberto claims to be Holiday, saying he committed the murders to make a name for himself. However, in an internal monologue, Gilda confesses that she was Holiday. She began her killing spree in hopes of easing Harvey’s burden and giving them a normal life together.
Conclusion
The events of The Batman and the follow-up HBO Max limited series The Penguin would force Reeves to shift characters and events. Still, the main story beats and tragic themes of The Long Halloween are cinematic and could fit well in the world he has built for The Batman: Part II.
Colin Farrell as the Penguin in The Penguin (2024), Max
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It’s all circumstantial evidence for now, and fans likely won’t know anything more until a trailer is released. The Batman: Part II is scheduled to hit theaters October 1, 2027, just in time for Halloween.
Do you think The Batman: Part II will draw inspiration from The Long Halloween? Or do you think this is a misreading of the clues? Let us know in the comments!
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“The Batman” – what a bore fest that was. Utterly stupid.
With the abhorrent lack of Christian leadership in all of Western entertainment, they should completely shelve Bruce Wayne’s alter-ego for a score, at least.
Dust Batman off in twenty years or so down the pike.
Any contemporary iteration is comprised.