Matt Reeves Teases THE BATMAN: PART II Villain That’s “Never Been Done” on the Big Screen

With The Batman: Part II still a long way from rolling cameras, fans are eager to find out which member of Gotham’s Rogues Gallery Robert Pattinson’s Dark Knight will face next. Director Matt Reeves isn’t ready to spill the secret just yet, but he did tease a big hint that has fans speculating.

Speaking to Josh Horowitz of Happy Sad Confused on the Emmys red carpet, Reeves revealed that he and co-writer Mattson Tomlin dug deep into Batman’s comic book history while shaping the sequel.

"I had a lot of ideas and then with Mattson Tomlin, my writing partner, began the process of deep-diving into the comics. We sat together and we watched a lot of movies, honestly, and not all the movies were from the realm of Gotham.”

Reeves went on to stress that this new story will push further into Bruce Wayne’s personal journey, not just Batman’s.

"One of the explorations, for me, was to do something that pushes even further into the character of Bruce Wayne because the first story is so much about the Batman. I always wanted, in the movies, to make sure [they were] focused on his character.

“I never wanted to lose Rob at the center of these stories – and that's what we set our aim on. So, we had to pick the right villain that digs into his past.

“I won't tell you where we ended up but we're super excited about it, and I will say it's never really been done in a movie before."

That last line is very interesting, “Never really been done in a movie before” immediately rules out Gotham’s most overused villains. The Joker, Bane, Two-Face, Scarecrow, Poison Ivy, and Mr. Freeze have all had their time on the big screen.

Reeves’ wording suggests this could be the first cinematic outing for a lesser-explored but equally compelling Batman foe.

Back in 2022, The Batman gave us a grounded Gotham where Pattinson’s young vigilante squared off against Paul Dano’s Riddler. The film also featured John Turturro’s Carmine Falcone and Colin Farrell’s Penguin, with Barry Keoghan’s Joker making a chilling cameo. But if Reeves is being literal, fans shouldn’t expect the Clown Prince to headline the sequel.

Which villain will step into the shadows this time? Possibilities range from cult-favorite characters who have long been overlooked to obscure figures who could challenge Bruce Wayne in unexpected ways.

One villain that has been popping up in reports over the years has been Hush. Hush's true identity is Dr. Thomas Elliot, a brilliant surgeon and childhood friend of Bruce Wayne, Batman's alter ego. Driven by jealousy and a desire for wealth and power, Elliot becomes a formidable adversary for Batman.

He adopts the alias "Hush" and embarks on a complex and long-running vendetta against the Dark Knight. Hush is known for his meticulous planning and ability to manipulate various other Batman rogues to achieve his goals. He also uses his medical expertise to orchestrate elaborate schemes, and his proficiency in hand-to-hand combat makes him a formidable physical opponent for Batman.

Hush is a great Batman character, and one of the things that I liked about the villain is that his arc is characterized by intricate plotting, psychological warfare, and a deep exploration of the dark and personal aspects of Batman's life.

Hush had his face surgically rebuilt to look like Bruce Wayne and assume Bruce's identity, dismantle his company, kill his friends and allies, and mutilate the real Bruce's corpse so he could be rid of Batman. He’s a very dark character.

We’ll have to wait until The Batman 2 hits theaters on October 1, 2027, to find out.