According to Variety, Barry Keoghan is expected to return as the Joker in Matt Reeves’ The Batman: Part II. The character was teased at the end of 2022’s The Batman — Keoghan was only credited as “Unseen Arkham Prisoner” — though Reeves later confirmed the character’s identity.
Batman and Catwoman in The Batman – YouTube, Warner Bros. Pictures
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This latest information about a movie that has so far been kept under tight wraps is beginning to reveal the bigger picture.
The Long Halloween Theory Explained
A series of rumors from early last December suggested that The Batman: Part II would be drawing inspiration from the comic The Long Halloween. First, Deadline reported that Scarlett Johansson was close to signing on for an unspecified role in the DC Elseworlds movie. Additional speculation that Reeves’ sequel would focus on Harvey Dent/Two-Face made it likely that Johansson was being offered the role of Gilda Dent.
Reeves has said in interviews 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. The organized crime themes that set the tone for The Batman and were expanded in the HBO Max spin-off The Penguin fit well with The Long Halloween.
Colin Farrell as the Penguin in The Penguin (2024), Max
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In the comic, a series of holiday murders ignite a war between the city’s major gangs, with each side suspecting the other of being behind the killings. 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.
Keoghan’s return as the Joker in The Batman: Part II falls in line with the plot of the comic. In The Long Halloween, the Joker becomes jealous of the Holiday Killer and escapes Arkham Asylum to begin his own investigation. On New Year’s Eve, he attempts a mass poisoning in Gotham Square, hoping to kill his rival, the Holiday Killer.
Cover image from Batman: The Long Halloween – Tim Sale, DC Comics
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The idea of the Joker and Robert Pattinson’s Batman working against each other in pursuit of the same target could offer an interesting dynamic. It also means that Reeves can save the Clown Prince of Crime as the main antagonist for a future movie.
Though hopefully, should The Batman: Part III get greenlit, it won’t face the same delays as Part II. The movie, originally expected to hit theaters by October of 2025, has been delayed twice. First in 2023 because of the WGA strike, and again in 2024 because the script was incomplete.
Despite the delays, Keoghan isn’t the only actor returning for the sequel.
Returning Cast and the Start of Production
Variety adds that Jeffrey Wright is returning as Commissioner James Gordon, and Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth. Colin Farrell has said in interviews that while he is returning as Oz Cobb, aka: The Penguin, he doesn’t have many scenes. He added, “I read the script and it’s extraordinary.”
Notably, Zoë Kravitz, who played Selina Kyle/Catwoman in The Batman, is not expected to return. Cristin Milioti’s Sofia Falcone, who featured heavily in The Penguin, will not be in the movie, though Reeves has expressed interest in using her character in the future.
Robert Pattinson in The Batman – Warner Bros., YouTube
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Sebastian Stan has recently been announced in an unspecified role.
In September, Reeves told Variety, “We’ll shoot probably like April, end of April, beginning of May, something like that.” With the cast coming together and production set to begin in the next few months, fans can expect a steadier flow of information. The big question now is how large a role Keoghan’s Joker will play in the story of The Batman: Part II.
How do you feel about Barry Keoghan returning to play the Joker in The Batman: Part II? Let us know in the comments!
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If they can pull off an authentic and true-to-the-source adaptation, it could be a great entry into the Batman library.
Do I think they can, especially now that DC movies are all “James Gunn Presents, a James Gunn Production. Also, James Gunn!”? Nope, if Gunn is able to get his mitts on this he’ll want to leave his greasy fingerprints all over. Sort of how Joss Wedon turned Justice League into a movie who’s tone did not match the Synderverse and broke the darker atmosphere Snyder had been trying to – with marginal results – establish over the previous films.
I heard a rumor that Pedro Pascal is being cast as Robin because he’s totally not too old for the role, and everyone can’t get enough of Pedo. Pedo Pisspal!