The Batman Part 2 Will Repeat A Winning Quality From Robert Pattinson's First Movie

The Batman - Part II is already repeating one of the first film's best qualities. Matt Reeves' The Batman created a new version of the Caped Crusader that was well-received by critics and audiences alike. It earned an 85% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes and grossed around $772 million at the worldwide box office.

The film delivered a dark and gritty version of Batman, taking place in the corrupt world of Gotham City. Robert Pattinson's Batman is an excellent blend of the character's best qualities, mixing his martial arts skills with his genius efficiency as a detective.

The film's mystery was captivating, and was elevated by its stellar roster of villains, allies, and anti-heroes. While the film had a central villain in The Riddler, it weaved together other villains through a story that became more intriguing as it evolved. Based on recent additions to the sequel's cast, it looks like Part II is continuing this winning formula.

The Batman Part 2 Is Using Multiple Batman Villains

Batman has the most iconic roster of villains in comics, and The Batman wisely used more than one. The Riddler was the film's main threat, as he killed many of Gotham's most corrupt figures while leaving clues to test Batman. Other villains included Carmine Falcone and The Penguin, who found themselves intertwined in The Riddler's schemes.

Using multiple villains made the film's storyline more intriguing, but also effectively built Reeves' Gotham. It allowed the film to dive deep into the city's criminal underworld, which was further explored in The Penguin series. It makes the universe feel connected and resembles the feeling of reading a classic Batman comic book.

The upcoming sequel doesn't have a central villain confirmed yet, but there are several either returning or set to be introduced. Colin Farrell's Penguin is returning after gaining control of Gotham's criminal empire in his dedicated TV show, and Variety confirmed that Barry Keoghan's Joker will return, though the prominence of his role is still unknown.

One addition to the cast is Sebastian Stan, who will reportedly play Harvey Dent, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Scarlett Johansson is also rumored to be playing his wife, Gilda. While Harvey begins as a noble attorney, he eventually turns into Two-Face after an incident damages one side of his face.

Dent's addition to The Batman - Part II is perfect, as corruption in law enforcement is a key theme of the first film, and Harvey is notorious for his vicious form of justice once he becomes Two-Face. Gilda could also play a villainous role in the upcoming sequel, especially if it's adapting The Long Halloween.

Stan's Dent may not become Two-Face in the next film, but his casting suggests it's coming eventually. It'll be fascinating to see how Joker, Penguin, and Two-Face could connect in The Batman - Part II, but the first film proved that it can work without getting overstuffed, and only heightens the film's intrigue.

Release Date October 1, 2027

Writers Matt Reeves, Mattson Tomlin, Bill Finger, Bob Kane