The Batman 2 – 6 Villains We’d Love to See in the Sequel

The Batman worked in every possible way because it was unlike any Batman movie made before it. Don’t get me wrong, TDK trilogy is untouchable and has it’s place in history.

But The Batman was quite arguably the most accurate adaptation of Batman, assuming you can about authenticity and giving the audience a grounded story set in “real life”.

Due to that, I’d also say that Robert Pattinson is the best Batman we’ve seen yet. But that argument is for another day. Like Battinson or hate him, he’s going to be back for more in The Batman 2, which has been announced already.

One thing we don’t know? Who he’ll be going up against. We can guess we’ll see more of The Penguin and a return of Catwoman is possible, but what other Batman villains will show up in the sequel?

I have a personal list of my favorites that I’d love to see; particularly in this authentic, gritty world Matt Reeves has made for us.

6. Hugo Strange

I am all for this grounded Batman universe. The campier stuff isn’t my cup of tea, and while I do think Christopher Nolan found that sweet spot, I think Reeves’ vision aligns with what I want out of a Batman movie the most.

Insert Hugo Strange, who basically gives us a doctor who loses it trying to figure out Batman’s identity.

Cue: a revisit of The Riddler, The Joker, and perhaps much more.

Strange is admittedly not a big name that jumps out at the mainstream Batman fan base, but he’s at the very worst a realistic catalyst for a bigger story in The Batman sequel.

5. Mr. Freeze

While I want Batman villains that actually make sense for this world, I also am very interested in how Matt Reeves would fit some round pegs into square holes.

He’s been fascinated with that idea, too, specifically with a character like Mr. Freeze.

We all remember the horrifying rendition played by Arnold Schwarzenegger, where Mr. Freeze was covered in blue glitter and reduced to somewhat catchy one-liners.

Good lord.

This is a mad scientist, but he’s also a damn genius. And Ahnold is who they chose to play him? Boy, when Batman & Robin opted for campy, they really went all out, eh?

But I digress.

Mr. Freeze is a very interesting character, and there is a way to make him a lot darker and more realistic than the comics did. Reeves accomplished that with The Riddler, so I’d love to see how he introduces and utilizes Mr. Freeze in The Batman 2.

4. Bane

The story is similar here, as a really brooding and powerful figure like Bane could be a ton of fun in this Batman universe.

Nolan and co. really knocked it out of the park with Tom Hardy’s version. I don’t really think you can top that, but a similar rendition could still be worked into this world.

Hardy brought a lot of interesting characteristics to Bane, who obviously had the size, strength, and presence you look for. It’d be interesting to see another spin on this character, as well as how they’d write him into the new story.

I just love the idea of Batman running into a situation where he really needs to rely on his brain more than his brawn, and especially as he’s learning on the fly – he’d need to adapt in a hurry versus Bane.

3. Two-Face

A more realistic option is Two-Face. Harvey Dent is a regular lawyer and can easily be worked into The Batman 2, as there are a bunch of criminals and a lot of cases to be had.

Dent could be just about anybody, but Reeves would have to be careful about two things; how to present Two-Face once he’s disfigured, and which actor can really sell the transformation from distinguished law man to a raging monster.

To be honest, intertwining Hugo Strange, Two-Face and more Batman villains actually makes a ton of sense.

2. Poison Ivy

Ever since Uma Thurman went a bit over the top with her campy portrayal of Poison Ivy, I’ve wondered what a more realistic option would look like.

I tend to think it’d be a cross between Selina Kyle from the first movie, and perhaps Miranda from The Dark Knight Rises.

Poison Ivy has a way with men, and she can sway Batman and most everyone with both her beauty and perhaps some drugs. None of that is unrealistic, provided it’s done in a fashion that the audience can buy.

1. The Joker

One more villain I’d love to see in The Batman is the Joker. This should shock nobody, as we haven’t seen this character at a high level for two Batman movies now.

There was a sneak peak into what Barry Keogan’s Joker could be, and I loved every second of it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKGhtSCVovo

In fact, there is a very real case that’s the best joker in Batman history.

I know, I know, that’s blasphemy. To be clearer, I mean to say that it’s the best Joker in raw form, as far as giving us a grounded, realistic character.

All other jokers were either extremely campy, or perhaps not quite s realistic. Well, Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker was about as realistic as it gets, but I’m excited to see where Kheogan can take us with this role.