The Batman 2 can pay it off. Although not much is known about the highly anticipated sequel, its fairly blatant Hush teases have generated a lot of excitement among audiences for the next installment. While the prospect of having Hush appear in a live-action Batman film is exciting, there is one big reason that it shouldn't happen in The Batman 2.
The Riddler is the main villain in The Batman, a character who wears a crudely put-together mask as he attempts to terrorize Gotham due to a personal vendetta against the Wayne family. Hush wouldn't work in The Batman 2, as the villain is a character who wears a crudely put-together mask as he attempts to terrorize Gotham due to a personal vendetta against the Wayne family. Having similar backstories is one thing, but The Batman's characterization of The Riddler makes the two characters way too similar. It's possible that Hush could've worked if The Batman's Riddler was a charming, suave, trickster, but with the direction they went, The Batman 2 should really stay away from Hush.
Where Can Hush Appear In The Batman's Shared Universe?
Hush probably shouldn't appear in The Batman 2, but that doesn't mean there isn't room for him in The Batman's shared universe. There are plenty of projects that Hush could still appear in, as there are several The Batman spin-offs currently planned. An Arkham Asylum spin-off series is currently in the works for HBO Max, and Hush would fit into the show perfectly. Like most of Batman's foes, Hush has spent his fair share of time in Arkham, and since the character seemingly already exists in the universe, he could appear here. Matt Reeves is also working on several spin-off movies centered around popular Batman villains, including films based on the Scarecrow, Clayface, and Professor Pyg. While Hush could realistically make his debut in any of these, a more exciting prospect would be for the character to get a movie of his own. Finally, it's entirely possible that Hush could work in The Batman 3, as long as The Batman 2 has a unique villain that gives audiences some breathing room between Riddler and Hush.
The Batman 2 Needs A Totally Different Villain
After Riddler, The Batman 2 needs a totally different villain in order to differentiate the films. There are lots of option's for The Batman 2's villain. The most obvious is Joker, who was set up in The Batman. The Joker's personality and motivations couldn't be more different from Riddler's, making him a great candidate for the sequel. Mr. Freeze could also work, with the more fantastical villain being juxtaposed against the incredibly grounded plan and abilities of the Riddler. Another popular choice is the Court of Owls, which would not only expand on the themes of The Batman, but it would also be incredibly different, with Batman having to face off against an anonymous group of Gotham's elites instead of one guy. Although Hush shouldn't be the villain in The Batman 2, there are plenty of other characters who would fit the bill.
The Batman Should've Given Riddler Hush's Backstory
While both The Riddler and Hush are popular characters, the simplest way for The Batman to have represented both villains would have been to Riddler's villainous plan even further. There are some elements that would still be missing, such as Hush's signature use of disguises, but the two character's story and aesthetic similarities are already plain to see. While Hush will presumably appear in the future of The Batman's shared universe, the character should be handled carefully, and definitely shouldn't be in The Batman 2.
