Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for The Batman.
Matt Reeves answered questions about whether the Joker would be the main villain of The Batman 2, a sequel to the Robert Pattinson-led Caped Crusader movie. While his first film focused mainly on Gotham's corruption alongside notable Batman villains like the Riddler (Paul Dano), the Penguin (Colin Farrell), and Catwoman (Zöe Kravitz), the hero's archenemy was teased. Reeves and Robert Pattinson's Batman continuity is set to be expanded in various spin-off projects.
When the dust settled from the Riddler's reign of terror, Batman's mission as a crimefighter is forever changed. After facing the Riddler and his followers, who shared a similar mindset to his own quest for vengeance, Bruce regroups and adjusts his methods, vowing to change Gotham by becoming a symbol of hope by helping the city recover. However, in the shadows of Arkham State Prison, an unknown inmate reaches out to the now-imprisoned Edward Nashton with an offer of friendship, now confirmed to be the Joker by Reeves, portrayed by Barry Keoghan. With the character's notoriety, many fans may wonder what is in store for Keoghan's take on the villain and when he'll come face to face with Pattinson's Batman, and now Reeves has shed some light on the character's future following the film's release.
Speaking to IGN, Reeves opened up about Keoghan's surprise character and answered questions on whether his Joker would be a central villain in the sequel. Reeves explained that Dano and Keoghan's scene was not intended to be a tease that would directly lead into the sequel, but it also wasn't just an easter egg. Reeves itted he wasn't sure whether the Joker would be a villain in the sequel, but stated the early version of the character showed the beginning of villains rising in response to the Batman. Check out Reeves's full answer below.
"The scene is not meant to be there to say, like, 'Oh, there's an easter egg, the next movie is X.'. Like, I don't know that the Joker would be in the next movie, but I can tell you is that here's what you're seeing is an early days version of the character, and trouble, as always, is brewing in Gotham."
deleted scene where Keoghan interacted with Pattinson's Batman, hinting that it may be released following the film's release.
While Keoghan's Joker may not currently be planned to have a key role in a sequel to The Batman, his presence may be one of the film's best-kept secrets. Not only did Reeves and Keoghan manage to hide one of Batman's most iconic and heavily marketed foes from fans, but his presence is a perfect way to foreshadow what is yet to come in Gotham City. Pattinson's Batman may be set on a path of hope by the end of Reeves' film, but his deadliest foe is already set on his own journey, proving that Batman's goal will not come easy.
Source: IGN
