Information About The Batman Part II has been painfully scarce, with a lengthy delay finally producing a release date of October 1, 2027, barring any further delays. But we know next to nothing about the plot, only that it takes place just a short while after the events of The Penguin. Now, we have a big update.
All the trades are reporting that Scarlett Johansson is in talks to join The Batman 2, the ultra A-lister on a great run of films, including leading a new Jurassic Park era and starring in Mike Flanagan’s The Exorcist film. Now, after a long stint at Marvel as Black Widow, she could be heading to DC for this Batman part. But…what part?
One thing all the reports do not cover are what role she’s going to play. Adjacent to this, there is word that Zoe Kravitz will not be returning as Catwoman in the sequel, which isn’t the biggest of shocks, I suppose. A report from insider Jeff Sneider says Johansson “could very well” be a love interest for Bruce, but he’s heard that she’ll end up being a villain.
Where to even start?
Poison Ivy – This news keeps being covered using Black Widow-era pictures of Johansson with red hair. Poison Ivy is close to tied as the highest profile female Batman villain right alongside Catwoman and Harley Quinn, but this seems unlikely, as she’s not going to be a “secret” villain in that role, and Poison Ivy does not feel like she would fit into the “grounded” world of The Batman without a total overhaul of her character.
Harley Quinn – I don’t buy it. The DCEU just finished a lengthy run with Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, and that character seems like she’s going to be on ice for a while. It also just does not strike me as a role Johansson would fit into.
Talia al Ghul – No, Matt Reeves is not going to do a Nolan villain and uh, she’s entirely the wrong race.
Huntress – I mean, probably a bit more possible than those others as a fellow vigilante who frequently has run-ins with Batman. But again, she was just in Birds of Prey in the DCEU.
Vicki Vale – Now we’re going all the way back to Tim Burton’s Batman, which would reprise the reporter character that’s always on Bruce’s trail. She is a love interest, but seems like a somewhat uninteresting character for a Reeves film.
Batgirl/Batwoman – Too old for Batgirl. Batwoman is not impossible, and hey, more red hair. I would be surprised.
Silver St. Cloud – We’re getting a bit more obscure here, but if we’re doing “who does Scarlett Johansson look like out of all of these,” I think Silver may fit the bill. She’s a love interest who figures out Bruce is Batman.
Then, of course, we have what Matt Reeves has said about the film, saying that it will feature a villain that has never been filmed onscreen (I definitely do not think Johansson would be the Big Bad) , and a villain that has ties to Bruce’s past. The larger plot will be about corruption among Gotham’s elite. There are two very obvious theories about which characters/stories would be adapted here. And which women appear in those?
Hush – Catwoman, Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, Huntress, Oracle, Talia al Ghul, Lady Shiva
The Court of Owls (I’d say the most likely) – Harper Row (Bluebird), Julia Pennyworth, Mary Turner/Talon/Strix, Martha Wayne/Mary Grayson in flashbacks.
Look, I…have no idea. Based on all that, my final picks are Huntress, Julia Pennyworth or Mary Turner, but I’m really grasping at straws here. This is a tough one!
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