Matt Reeves’ dark and gritty take on the Caped Crusader in The Batman was a critical and commercial success. There’s no doubt it will lead to a sequel, but which beloved characters from the first will make a return?
Part of the reason why The Batman was able to rake in more than $750 million at the box office was down to the quality acting performances in the film. Robert Pattinson, Zoë Kravitz, Paul Dano, and Colin Farrell were all praised for their roles as Batman, Catwoman, the Riddler, and the Penguin, respectively.
It will be a tough call for Reeves as to who to bring back in the next outing. He will want his series to evolve, but he will also be aware that fans want to see more of these incredible characters.
Catwoman Almost Certain to Make a Return
For many critics, Kravitz was the highlight of the picture, and arguably the best Catwoman in any Batman adaptation. She fit the bill perfectly and gave fans what they expected to see, with the catsuit, stealth, and martial arts skills all there. Reeves’ picture also brought a slightly new take on her real persona as well, though, with Selina Kyle written as the daughter of mob boss Carmine Falcone.
Kravitz and Pattinson had incredible chemistry on screen, and their partnership helped make the movie the unprecedented hit it turned out to be. Although Reeves could have originally planned to leave out Catwoman from any sequels, he may need to shoehorn her into the next one to appease fans.
Penguin Will Get a Series
Farrell was unrecognizable as the Penguin in The Batman, as he brought a fresh take to the character. This version was a much fiercer, less comedic iteration of the villain than viewers have seen before. He had some great scenes as well, with the car chase being a particular standout.
It’s unlikely that the Penguin will play a major role in any upcoming Batman films from Reeves, however, as it has already been confirmed that he will be getting his own series on HBO Max.
Farrell is serving as an executive producer in the unnamed spinoff centering on Oswald Cobblepot. HBO Max will use this to add to its DC original offerings on the platform, which already includes Peacemaker.
Riddler Could be Handed a Small Role
The Riddler has most likely served his main purpose in Reeves’ Batman universe, as his story concluded in the 2022 picture. However, thanks to Dano’s exceptional performance, it would be nice to see him back in some capacity in the future.
There is a possibility, therefore, that the Riddler could return in a minor role. Reeves will introduce a new main villain or villains, but whoever he chooses could turn to the Riddler for advice or bust him out of Arkham Asylum.
It’s exciting to think what direction The Batman 2 will take, and which bad guys will make an appearance. Because of the popularity of the characters in Reeves’ first offering, he may need to bring a few of them back in the next outing.
