Characters We Hope To See In The Batman 2
The night is dark and the rain is thick, but that doesn't stop the Batman from terrorizing criminals on the big screen "The Batman," in his first solo feature film since 2012's "The Dark Knight Rises." This time, director Matt Reeves ("War for the Planet of the Apes") puts his own gloomy, noir-influenced spin on the Caped Crusader's early crimefighting days. Robert Pattinson's turn under the cowl of the tortured vigilante vying for justice puts a new detective-focused focus on the live-action presentation of the character. The end result is one of comics' most famous — not to mention most dark and brooding — characters following the leads of a gradually intensifying mystery.
"The Batman" also boasts a strong cast that brings some of Gotham City's most colorful characters to life. Zoë Kravitz takes on the role of the skilled professional thief known as Catwoman. Colin Farrell packs on the facial prosthetics and entirely disappears into the mobster Penguin (aka Oswald Cobblepot). And the film's primary villain, the Riddler, is portrayed by Paul Dano. The film's other notable characters include Alfred Pennyworth (Andy Serkis), James Gordon (Jeffrey Wright), Carmine Falcone (John Turturro), and D.A. Gil Colson (Peter Sarsgaard). After watching all those stars in action during "The Batman," we can't help but wonder which Batman characters will make the cut for the sequel. Here's a look at some prime candidates for the follow-up to Matt Reeves' first Batman film.
Warning: Spoilers ahead for "The Batman."
Lucius Fox
Bruce Wayne's side job as a costumed vigilante doesn't leave him with much time to run the massive empire that is Wayne Enterprises. Instead, Lucius Fox is often depicted handling those duties as CEO of the company. In the Batman mythos, Lucius Fox is one of a few people that knows Batman's secret identity as Bruce Wayne — knowledge he puts to good use by helping Batman stay equipped with the latest and most efficient technology. Many of the gadgets and hardware that Batman employs in the field are sourced by Lucius Fox.
The character received his live-action debut in Christopher Nolan's trilogy of Batman films, in which he was portrayed by the inimitable Morgan Freeman. In "The Batman," it's clear that Bruce has his operation figured out, but he's still rather young and can certainly use allies in his crusade. Much of his hardware, while effective, could use upgrades or replacements. Introducing Lucius Fox would narratively solve that issue as Bruce advances in his career as the Dark Knight.
Talon
Batman has enjoyed an enduring and ever-expanding mythos over the length of his career since making his debut in 1939, with the writers and illustrators at DC Comics continually expanding the character's crew of heroes and villains. While the Joker, Riddler, Penguin, and Two-Face are some of Batman's most popular adversaries, forging a new path forward for the Dark Knight might require bringing some prominent yet previously unused characters into the live-action arena.
The Court of Owls is a more recent addition to the list, courtesy of writer Scott Snyder and artist Greg Capullo. The shadowy illuminati-like group made its debut in September of 2011 with the first issue of "Batman" to hit the shelves after DC's "New 52" rebrand was launched. The Court sways the future of Gotham through its assassins the Talons, the most formidable of which is William Cobb. Immortal due to the use of a mysterious substance supplied by the court called electrum, William tests Batman's mettle and even enlightens him, revealing a sinister history behind the city he's sworn to protect. At one point, William is even revealed to be Dick Grayson's great-grandfather. This storyline would be a real treat to witness in live action.
Two-Face
Two-Face has reigned down his fair share of terror on Gotham City. Philosophically similar to the Mad Titan Thanos of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Two-Face is all about balance. As far as he's concerned, it's often best to let the universe decide the answers to life-or-death questions — with a simple 50/50 chance at the flip of a coin. Two-Face is absolutely one of Gotham's greatest tragedies. Both in the comics and as portrayed in Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight," he was once Harvey Dent, a district attorney and an ally to all that was good and just in Gotham. After the mob disfigured him, his psyche shattered. His dark side took root and became one of the city's most feared gangsters.
Two-Face has appeared in multiple live-action films. He was portrayed by Tommy Lee Jones in "Batman Forever" with a much campier portrayal of a deeply twisted individual. Pre-Two-Face era Harvey Dent even made an appearance in 1989's "Batman," played by Billy Dee Williams. Later, "The Dark Knight" entwined Harvey's (Aaron Eckhart) destiny with that of the Joker's (Heath Ledger) in 2008. His downfall and momentary rebirth as Two-Face were all part of the Joker's anarchistic plot to tear the city down. All along, Two-Face has never had the opportunity to reign supreme as the sole big bad in his own live-action Batman film. If Matt Reeves took control of his story, there's no telling what madness this villain could cook up onscreen.
Professor Pyg
If the powers that be decide to continue the noir-style theme for the second adventure of Pattinson's Batman, Professor Pyg would have a darkly sinister appeal. The character was created by writer Grant Morrison and initially appeared in a one-shot alternate timeline story of Batman issue #666, and although he died in that issue, he resurfaced in 2011 and became a major villain after the New 52 rebranding launched across DC Comics properties.
His real name is Lazlo Valentin, and he's a mad scientist with schizophrenia and a horrific pig mask. In his madness, he captures victims who he mutilates in the name of "perfection." They are transformed into brainwashed minions known as Dollotrons. While he is a conniving mastermind, he transcends standard criminality in pursuit of his bloody, twisted vision of society. Professor Pyg has no superpowers, only his creepy appearance and skill with overpowering the mind and forcing his disfigured victims to do his bidding. The character's high-functioning Leatherface vibes may be a bit much for the PG-13 crowd, though.
Mad Hatter
There is no one quite as mad as this hatter. He's not the whimsical character you know from "Alice in Wonderland," either.
Jervis Tetch is another mad scientist — one who recreates himself in the Mad Hatter's image. He even associates with two rotund thugs known as Tweedledee and Tweedledum. Instead of brainwashing, torture, and mutilation like Professor Pyg, Jervis has developed technology that allows him to control people's minds through manipulation of brainwaves and a fictional level of neuroscience we couldn't possibly comprehend. He often places hats or cards with tiny devices on the heads of his victims in order to take control.
Mad Hatter is actually a creation of one of Batman's co-creators, Bill Finger. He's even made live-action appearances on the small screen from time to time including an appearance in the 1960s "Batman" series and Fox's pre-Batman "Gotham" series. Despite his lengthy history, he's not one of the more well-known figures in Batman's coterie of supervillains. He could easily put Pattinson's Batman to the test, although his sci-fi technology may be too fantastical for this grounded take on the character.
Robin (Dick Grayson)
While Robin played a key role in the 1960s "Batman" series, his quirky attitude and catchphrases only served to add to the comedic campiness at play. Joel Schumacher added the sidekick into his take on the Dark Knight in "Batman Forever," but Schumacher's Batman films also asked viewers to suspend disbelief on multiple levels as they were purely rooted in a fantasy world. A more grounded take on the character of Robin and how he'd work with Batman in a more real-world setting would be a fascinating narrative to dig into.
The idea of Batman putting a young kid on the frontlines against hardened criminals is already a difficult pill to swallow. With the exception of a small reference, Robin was obviously a character Christopher Nolan shied away from in his gritty Dark Knight trilogy. Matt Reeves could potentially crack the code and deliver a Robin that's believable as a crimefighter and engaging to watch onscreen.
Clayface
One of the more supernatural characters in the Batman mythos, Clayface might find it hard to make a home in Matt Reeves' less fantastical take on Batman. However, like Bane in "The Dark Knight Rises," he doesn't have to exactly fit the mold of his comic book counterpart. For the uninitiated, Clayface is a supervillain dreamed up by original Batman creators Bill Finger and Bob Kane. There have been multiple iterations of the character, but the most popular one is Basil Karlo, an actor who prides himself in his craft. He utilizes a chemical make-up that ultimately transforms him into Clayface, a giant clay monster that can shapeshift into anything.
He's a fascinating villain that really gained notoriety in "Batman: The Animated Series." Bringing the character into the live-action realm would be difficult and require a lot of consideration when determining his appearance and motives. Regardless, it'd be a fresh and unique move for the latest Batman on the big screen.
Barbara Gordon
Batman has a reputation as a lone wolf, but he has many allies. With Catwoman and Batman going their separate ways in the final moments of "The Batman," there's certainly a void left behind. Aside from Robin, Batman works closely with Police Commissioner Jim Gordon in the comics — and also Jim's daughter Barbara, who eventually becomes Batgirl before being infamously shot in the spine and paralyzed by the Joker in "The Killing Joke." After her injury, she begins operating as technical support for Batman under the alias of Oracle. With the DC comics refresh in 2011, however, the character received a surgical procedure that removed her paralysis and she was able to once again take up the mantle of Batgirl and fight crime.
Batgirl is already getting her own film in the DCEU with actor Leslie Grace donning the cape and cowl. It's likely, then, that Warner Bros. will want to avoid mass confusion by also introducing Batgirl into the world of "The Batman." However, that doesn't mean we can't see Barbara Gordon enter the picture and potentially play the role of Oracle for Pattinson's Batman.
Jean-Paul Valley (Azrael)
The Order of St. Dumas is cloaked in secrecy, but we know it's created its own faction of assassins to deliver death to evildoers in Gotham. In addition to serving among their ranks, Jean-Paul Valley is perhaps one of Batman's most intriguing allies, but he never seems to gain the attention that he deserves.
The character is the first to don the alias of Azrael. Brainwashed by the Order, he's one of their top assassins. As Azrael, he has allied with Batman on occasion. When Bruce Wayne was put out of commission after Bane broke Batman's back in "Knightfall," Jean-Paul stepped up and filled the role of Batman for a time. However, he experienced a mental breakdown from his conditioning as Azrael, becoming brutal, merciless, and ultimately letting a man fall to his death. Afterwards, Bruce resolved to take back the mantle of Batman.
While we don't necessarily need a back-breaking Bane storyline again, introducing Jean-Paul Valley as a mysterious assassin from the Order with a grander scheme at play would make for an interesting live-action narrative. Or perhaps Jean-Paul could be an uneasy ally. Either way, his character is perfect for exploration on the big screen.
Mr. Freeze
Victor Fries is a tortured soul whose legacy was only heightened after the emotional and heart-rending episode of "Batman: The Animated Series" aptly named "Heart of Ice." In the episode, Mr. Freeze's villainy was rewritten for a modern audience. Gone was the cheesy obsession with ice that made him a throwaway joke villain. Instead, Victor Fries was given a tragic backstory and a dutiful motive for his villainous ambitions: His ailing wife was dying. In an effort to find a cure for her condition, he cryogenically froze her, but a lab accident left him imprisoned in his cold suit. He developed weaponry to match his icy condition and typically only engaged in criminal behavior in an effort to further the research to save his wife.
Arnold Schwarzenegger played a live-action performance of the character in 1997's "Batman & Robin," but it left much to be desired, reducing Mr. Freeze to a brawny pun-spewing joke. The world of Pattinson's Batman could be the exact setting needed to offer the character the emotional depth he deserves. Besides, sympathetic villains are some of the most interesting characters to follow.
Deathstroke
The brutal mercenary and assassin Slade Wilson is a fan favorite whose most famous storylines involve contracts he's received to kill major superheroes. Of course, he's tangled with Batman on a number of occasions. Video game fans even had the opportunity to take control of Batman and fight Deathstroke in "Batman: Arkham Origins." In the game, Black Mask puts a bounty on Batman's head and Deathstroke aims to collect. He's made a few minor appearances in the DCEU and was portrayed by Joe Manganiello with the promise of further exploration of the character. Many changes have occurred within the DCEU since, leaving us to wonder whether we'll see him again in future storylines.
Making Batman a target in "The Batman" could serve to amp up the narrative's intensity as the Dark Knight attempts to keep his identity as Bruce Wayne a secret. A narrative similar to "Arkham Origins" could be adopted as well, with Deathstroke one of multiple assassins seeking a Bat-payday. Whatever the case, Deathstroke would be an intriguing addition to the world of Pattinson's Batman.
Hugo Strange
One of Batman's earliest foes, Hugo Strange initially embroiled the Caped Crusader in a villainous plot involving his cliché mad scientist ambitions in the pages of Detective Comics issue #36. Eventually, Strange evolved, becoming something of a brilliant psychiatrist. In fact, he could so easily read individuals through their actions and the perceived implications that he was among the first to deduce Batman's secret identity.
Hugo Strange has displayed a strange obsession with the Dark Knight. In many storylines, he tries to take the mantle of Batman for himself. Often his plots still involve mad scientist ventures including work with genetics, development of high-tech weaponry, and even brainwashing. The character was a central figure in the video game "Batman: Arkham City" where he's following the lead of Ra's Al Ghul and hatching a plot to wipe out the criminals trapped within the prison city. The character has also appeared in live-action form on the show "Gotham," played by B.D. Wong.
After Pattinson's Batman really begins to make a name for himself in Gotham following his tussle with the Riddler, he's sure to begin attracting the attention of potential obsessives like Hugo Strange. The crazed doctor would be a logical evolution in the narrative of "The Batman" and his intellect would make him a worthy foe.
Hush
There's more to Bruce Wayne than a lonely life avenging his deceased parents. Even Bruce had friends as a child, and Tommy Elliott was one of them. Despite his family's wealth, Tommy's father was abusive and a drunk, and unfortunately, his mother only enabled his father's behavior. Tommy became filled with so much hate for his parents that he attempted to murder them by cutting the brakes on their car. He succeeded in killing his father, but Bruce's own father saved Tommy's mother's life. Enraged, Tommy grew up resenting Bruce and his family.
As an adult, he adopted the moniker of Hush and began a villainous rampage against Bruce. During the day, he was a successful and brilliant neurosurgeon as well as a plastic surgeon. Highly proficient in repairing scar tissue, he even repairs Harvey Dent's face. In a more disturbing narrative, he recreates Bruce's face with scar tissue and does the work on himself so he can go around destroying Bruce's legacy. As the villain Hush, he often wears bandages and carries firearms. He's a calculative strategist and an able combatant. Hush would make a great addition to the live-action mythos of the Batman. After all, the Riddler's documentation of Gotham's legacy of corruption did highlight Edward Elliott, confirming that the Elliott family is very much involved in this version of Gotham.
Killer Croc
Just as his name would suggest, Killer Croc has the appearance and likeness of a vicious humanoid crocodile. Because of the mutation that Waylon Jones was born with, he's been discarded by society and often reviled. This has driven him to lead a life of hatred and cruelty toward others. In his own madness, he often comes to blows with Batman during his criminal endeavors. Croc eventually became a well-known gangster, frequently inflicting his brand of violence on competitors. Because of his condition and subsequent treatment by the population at large, he leans into his perceived monstrosity by mauling and sometimes eating his foes.
While Killer Croc, as a character, might be a bit of a stretch for the world Matt Reeves has created, there's no telling what sort of new character arc the tortured Waylon Jones could be granted on camera. Of course, we've already seen one iteration of the character in "Suicide Squad" (not to be confused with James Gunn's more recent "The Suicide Squad"). Killer Croc only acted as muscle and had no real character depth or growth in that film. That could all change with a sequel to "The Batman."
The Joker
Ever since 2008's "The Dark Knight," fans have been itching to see Batman and the Joker go toe-to-toe again on the big screen. While Jared Leto played the Joker in "Suicide Squad" and "Zack Snyder's Justice League," Joaquin Phoenix landed the role in a solo film all about the Clown Prince of Crime's origins separate from the DCEU. Despite the characters' appearances in cinema since 2008, they've never really clashed in a big epic storyline like we witnessed with Heath Ledger's Joker and Christian Bale's Batman.
The Joker is perhaps Batman's most popular foe, and for good reason. There are many ways to interpret the character and he's often highly unpredictable. The mystery behind what fuels his madness, whether it's a vat of acid or a shady background, draws intrigue. Establishing the character in the world of "The Batman," would take guts as it'll unavoidably draw comparisons to Ledger's incredible "Dark Knight" performance. However, it's time that fans see Batman truly confront his greatest foe onscreen again. Perhaps he's the patient next door to the Riddler at Arkham State Hospital...