The world of Batman is about to take a wild, unexpected turn. Not only has DC revealed the first look at the Joker in its upcoming animated movie ‘Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires’, but fans have also received a major production update for Matt Reeves’ ‘The Batman 2’.
Both announcements bring exciting and very different flavors to the Dark Knight’s legacy. Now, fans are finally getting what the wanted from the new DCU.
The New Joker Will Be Unlike Anything We’ve Seen Before
If you thought you’d seen every version of the Joker possible, think again. DC’s latest interpretation is unlike anything before. In ‘Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires’, set in 16th-century Tenochtitlán, Batman’s eternal nemesis takes the name Yoka. This is not Gotham’s clown prince of crime. This joker is a figure deeply rooted in Aztec mythology and the cultural landscape of the time. Once a priest, Yoka’s descent into madness comes after performing countless human sacrifices.
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This horrifying backstory instantly sets him apart from his more familiar incarnations. Visually, Yoka is chilling. His white-painted face and blood-red lips nod to the traditional Joker look, but the similarities end there. Instead of the green hair and purple suit, he is adorned with jewelry and armor. Most unsettling of all is his black eye makeup, as when he closes his eyes, it creates the illusion of two empty voids staring back at you. He’s a Joker who looks like he has been plucked straight from a nightmare.
This cultural fusion is what makes Aztec Batman so intriguing. By mixing DC’s iconic characters with Aztec history and aesthetics, the film promises a fresh narrative experience. The Joker here isn’t just a criminal mastermind; he’s a product of an entirely different world, one where ritual, faith, and empire-building collide. And if his sinister design is anything to go by, Yoka will deliver the same unpredictability and menace fans expect from the Joker, however, in a far more primal and haunting form.
‘The Batman 2’ Begins Filming In 2026
While the animated Elseworlds tale will take fans to a reimagined past, Matt Reeves’ Batman saga continues to move forward. Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav has confirmed that ‘The Batman 2’ will officially begin filming in spring 2026, with a planned release in 2027. That’s a longer wait than many fans hoped for, as early expectations placed production toward the end of 2025.
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Still, the delay appears to be part of DC’s carefully measured approach to building its dual-track storytelling strategy. Reeves, who was behind ‘The Batman’, is once again directing and co-writing the screenplay alongside Mattson Tomlin. While plot details remain tightly under wraps, fans can safely expect the moody, detective-driven tone that made the first film stand out. Robert Pattinson will return as Bruce Wayne.
Additionally, while no new cast members have been officially announced, it’s expected that key players like Zoë Kravitz’s Selina Kyle and Jeffrey Wright’s Jim Gordon could reprise their roles. It’s clear that Reeves’ Gotham is being developed with the same long-term vision as Gunn’s DCU. Moreover, it’s rare to see one character interpreted in two vastly different ways at the same time. However, that’s exactly what 2025–2027 will bring.
On one side, you’ll have ‘Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires’, a bold experiment in cultural reimagining, placing Batman and the Joker in an entirely new historical and visual context. On the other hand, you’ll have ‘The Batman 2’, the continuation of a gritty, modern Gotham saga that feels ripped straight from a crime thriller. Both projects represent the flexibility of the Batman mythos.
