In 2022, Matt Reeves made it very clear that his interpretation of Gotham City would be darker, slower, and much more psychologically disturbing than what viewers were accustomed to. It was not a world that was constructed on glittering cameos or villain-team-ups. And yet, hidden deep in the last scenes of the film, was a chilling tease, a scarred man chuckling to himself in the depths of Arkham Asylum, addressing the Riddler as an old friend.
The Joker, played by Barry Keoghan, hardly made an appearance, yet he was felt long after the credits were finished. Now, as ‘The Batman 2’ finally moves closer to production, that lingering shadow is growing darker. It is reported that Keoghan’s Joker is officially coming back, and his comeback may bring him face-to-face with another major Gotham villain, potentially redefining the balance of power in Reeves’ grounded DC universe.
Arkham Is Becoming Something Far More Dangerous In ‘The Batman 2’
Reeves did not make the introduction of the Joker so subdued without a reason. In contrast to the earlier Batman movies, which tended to put the Clown Prince of Crime in the spotlight, ‘The Batman’ treated him as a disease that was already in the system of Gotham, not yet unleashed, but very much alive. Keoghans’ Joker did not require screen time to impress. His talk with the Riddler showed a frightening familiarity, suggesting that they shared philosophies and admired each other.
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The criminals of Gotham, it appeared, were already conversing with one another in jail. This feeling of history was further extended in the deleted scene that was later leaked online. It shows Robert Pattinson as Batman questioning the Joker about the mind of the Riddler. The interaction affirmed that Batman and Joker have already bumped heads. The Joker isn’t Batman’s future enemy in this universe; he’s part of his past.
As ‘The Batman 2’ is said to revive Keoghan, it is now apparent that the original movie was not teasing the Joker for shock. It was laying groundwork. The rogues of Gotham are not solitary creatures, but a system that is evolving. They learn, feed off the chaos, and are slowly transforming Arkham into something much more dangerous than a prison.
A Potential Two-Face Connection Changes Everything
The most interesting part of the Joker’s return is the list of rumored new villains that surround ‘The Batman 2’. Casting buzz indicates that Matt Reeves might be willing to open up the criminal world of Gotham in a major manner, and not only with villains. Scarlett Johansson is also reportedly in negotiations to play a secret role that is rumored to be Gilda Dent, and Sebastian Stan is also rumored to play Harvey Dent himself. Assuming this is the case, it would be the much-anticipated addition of Two-Face into Reeves’ world.
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It’s a character whose ethical downfall reflects the themes ‘The Batman’ feeds on. Harvey Dent is not a villain. He’s a tragedy. An emblem of how Gotham has failed to save its finest. And should the fall of Dent happen in ‘The Batman 2’, the presence of the Joker is much more than fan service. In most versions of the mythos, the Joker is not merely a criminal; he is a catalyst. He does not make monsters; he pushes them.
A meeting between Keoghan’s Joker and a newly introduced Harvey Dent wouldn’t need to be explosive or theatrical. It could be subtle. Conversational. Quietly devastating. This is just the right tone for Reeves. Think of Arkham not as a prison of villains, but as a crucible. A place where shattered minds come together. Joker befriending Riddler was just the beginning. Adding Two-Face into that environment turns Arkham into a ticking time bomb, one that could detonate across multiple films.
