The Batman 2 will reportedly copy one key strategy from Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy. Matt Reeves' DC sequel is one of the most anticipated movie projects in the entire comic book film genre. After Ben Affleck's lackluster tenure in the cape and cowl, Reeves and star Robert Pattinson managed to recapture some of the magic from Nolan's acclaimed Dark Knight movies by taking inspiration from its more grounded, gritty tone.
This pulling from Nolan's acclaimed trio of Batman films is seemingly set to continue with The Batman - Part 2, at least that is according to a new report from noted insider Jeff Sneider.
In a new post on X, Sneider teased that Barry Keoghan's Joker is set to return in the upcoming film. This came alongside news that MCU star Sebastian Stan had been cast in The Batman sequel, with Sneider himself alluding to the actor playing Harvey Dent/Two-Face.
This would mean that just like Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight (the second film in the Christian Bale-led Batman movies), The Batman 2 will also feature Joker and Harvey Dent in prominent roles. It is unclear whether these two characters will be the movie's primary villains, like they were in The Dark Knight, but it is conspicuous just how much connective tissue the two films share.
It had previously been reported that The Batman 2 could feature a female villain as its lead antagonist, with many speculating that Scarlett Johansson's new character could be it.
The Batman - Part 2 is set for release on October 1, 2027. The new film from director Matt Reeves will once again see Robert Pattinson as the Caped Crusader in what has been called one of 'the most personal to Bruce Wayne' Batman stories ever brought to screen. Production on the upcoming DC Comics epic is expected to begin sometime this spring.
Breaking Down The Batman - Part 2's New Villain Report
With both Joker and Two-Face seemingly playing significant roles in The Batman 2, it is going to be hard for Matt Reeves and company to avoid the Dark Knight comparisons. Christopher Nolan's 2008 DC blockbuster has become one of the most acclaimed comic book adaptations of all time. So, when any other title gets even close to it in any way, fans are sure to notice.
However, The Batman 2, while seemingly featuring some of the same characters as The Dark Knight, could differentiate itself in one key way. During the development of The Dark Knight, one of the key inspirations for the film that was frequently mentioned was the beloved Long Halloween comic story.
While much of The Dark Knight had loose connections to The Long Halloween, it was by no means a faithful adaptation. The Batman 2 could capitalize on that, leaning even further into the Long Halloween inspirations. There is evidence to suggest that the 2027 film is doing just that.
Yes, characters like Joker and Harvy Dent feature prominently in The Long Halloween; Dent's wife, Darla, is the primary villain. Darla takes on the serial killer persona Holiday in the book, killing key criminal and political figures across Gotham City on various holidays.
Scarlett Johansson's rumored casting as Darla in The Batman 2 could suggest that Matt Reeves intends to do a much more faithful adaptation of The Long Halloween for his next movie.
