Buzz
The Batman is set to kickstart a new DC cinematic universe, and immediately the film has unveiled a plethora of other villains for future projects.
The Batman isn't just the first solo cinematic blockbuster for the Dark Knight in the last decade, but it also unveils a new superhero universe for DC. Director Matt Reeves' reboot, starring Robert Pattinson, takes us back to the early days of Batman's superhero career, where he confronts Edward Nashton/Riddler, a serial killer who leaves mind-boggling puzzles at crime scenes to expose the true face of some corrupted officials in Gotham City.
Being the inaugural film for a new Batman-centric universe, it's no surprise that The Batman drops many hints to pave the way for the appearance of various villains in upcoming cinematic projects. Below are the names that may clash with the Dark Knight on the big screen in the near future.
Joker
It would be a major oversight if Joker didn't make an appearance in a solo Batman film as the main antagonist. In fact, the conclusion of The Batman, along with a recently revealed 5-minute cut by Warner Bros., both confirm the presence of the DC criminal mastermind in this new universe, with actor Barry Keoghan taking on the role.
In the screening footage, it's evident that Joker has casually befriended Riddler while both are confined in the Arkham Asylum. Subsequently, a cut scene reveals that Batman had a showdown and defeated Joker nearly a year ago. However, grappling with Riddler's puzzles, the Dark Knight sought Joker's opinion, hoping to decipher the thoughts of the serial killer he's pursuing.
Joker is almost certain to make a comeback in DC's new cinematic universe, even though director Matt Reeves has expressed caution in exploring this character hastily. We might encounter Joker in a prequel to The Batman, facing the Dark Knight for the first time. Alternatively, Joker could be quietly assembling a team of Batman's adversaries, including Riddler, to prepare for an elaborate escape plan and his most spectacular revenge.
Hush
In the comic books, Hush, aka Thomas Elliot, is Bruce Wayne's childhood friend and a former murderer who attempted to kill his parents to quickly inherit their fortune. In this film adaptation, Thomas Elliot is a journalist who discovers crucial secrets about the Wayne family, potentially harming Thomas Wayne's mayoral candidacy. He is assassinated by Carmine Falcone to silence him. Warner Bros. might reimagine these characters to merge them into one, setting the stage for their future cinematic projects.
Additionally, The Batman's credits hint at a link to the website rataalada.com, which Riddler used to communicate with Bruce Wayne in the movie. After solving a series of puzzles on the site, we unlock videos related to Thomas Wayne's mayoral campaign, featuring the ominous phrase 'Hush!' prominently covering the screen.
Two-Face
Gotham in The Batman is depicted as a city ravaged by corruption. This is partly the reason behind Riddler's plan to assassinate key officials who exploited the Renewal fund for their own enrichment. One of Riddler's victims is District Attorney Gil Colson.
After Colson's death, Gotham will need someone new to fill the position, paving the way for Harvey Dent to enter The Batman cinematic universe, although DC Films has yet to provide any official confirmation. In the comics, Dent becomes Gotham's district attorney at the age of 26, six months before Bruce Wayne embarks on his superhero journey. However, on the big screen, in a city on the verge of total collapse, a character with abilities and integrity like Harvey Dent is crucial before he transforms into a notorious criminal relying on the flip of a coin to act.
Bane
In the final battle against Riddler's idealistic supporters, Batman uses a green-colored substance to instantly restore his strength but becomes more aggressive, almost killing his opponent. This could be Miraclo from the comics, originally used by the antagonist Bane to enhance himself.
The last time the character Bane appeared on the big screen was in The Dark Knight Rises (2012), portrayed by Tom Hardy. Recently, actor Dave Bautista expressed interest in the role. Will we witness Bautista's version of Bane on the big screen in the near future?
Red Hood
Red Hood is the new alias for Jason Todd/Robin after his own death in Death in the Family. Compared to the four villains, the teasers for Red Hood in The Batman are somewhat subtle. In the opening segment, when Batman punishes a gang of masked thugs in the subway, he pardons a young man who almost killed someone to join the gang.
As Jason Todd hails from the streets, this could be a setup for Robin/Red Hood entering The Batman cinematic universe later on. Additionally, an interesting coincidence is that Tim Drake, the young man mentioned above, is the same actor who portrayed Robin in HBO Max's Titans series.
Court of Owls
In the comics, the Court of Owls is an ancient, wealthy group of families in Gotham, using money and power to manipulate the city's politics for decades. In The Batman, Riddler's video somewhat reflects this issue, exposing how the Wayne family uses their wealth and influence to conceal the darkest secrets, including Martha Wayne's mental health problems.
Before The Batman premiered, there was a hypothesis that the Court of Owls might be the main villains, behind all the massacres in Gotham. Although that theory is inaccurate, details about the Wayne family's past suggest that the wealthiest families in Gotham may still be discreetly using their money and power to influence the city.
Penguin
In The Batman, Penguin (Colin Farrell) isn't the main antagonist, appearing as a wealthy underworld kingpin rather than a villain with twisted thoughts and deviant ideologies. He owns an underground nightclub and operates under Carmine Falcone's influence. Now, with Falcone eliminated by the Riddler, the position of the 'ultimate boss' is wide open for Penguin. This is likely why Warner Bros. has decided to produce a spin-off TV series centered around this character, scheduled to air on HBO Max in the near future.
As per ScreenRant
