Matt Reeves Just Gave Us a Huge Clue to The Batman 2’s Villain (& It Was Set Up 3 Years Ago)

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As people often say, a Batman movie’s quality largely depends on its villain, so what does this mean for The Batman: Part II? Of course, there’s much more to the history of Batman films than just the antagonists, but it’s undeniable that the most beloved movies also feature some truly unforgettable villains. Think of Heath Ledger’s Joker in The Dark Knight, Jack Nicholson’s Joker in Batman, or The Penguin and Catwoman (played by Danny DeVito and Michelle Pfeiffer) in Batman Returns. Paul Dano’s unique portrayal of The Riddler was another strong addition to this legacy and raises the stakes for the next film.

The Batman 2 has faced several delays, so we still don’t know who the main villain will be. Colin Farrell will reprise his role as the Penguin, but it’s expected to be a smaller part than in the first film, meaning he won’t be the primary antagonist. While The Batman’s ending hinted at Barry Keoghan’s Joker, director and co-writer Matt Reeves has stated that the sequel’s villain is someone “never really been done” in a movie before. This rules out many common choices, but speculation continues to focus on a Batman foe who has been discussed since the first movie came out in 2022: Hush.

Is Hush The Batman: Part II’s Villain?

Reeves’ statements seem to imply he’s talking about a live-action film. Many animated Batman movies have already explored a large portion of his villains, and the way he speaks suggests this new project will follow suit. However, this still leaves several possibilities, including stories featuring the Court of Owls or Hugo Strange. But when combined with other news about The Batman 2, it points to Hush as the most probable villain.

The director has emphasized that the next movie will focus more on Bruce Wayne and a threat that hits close to home. If that’s true, then Thomas Elliot, also known as Hush, would be a perfect villain. Thomas, or Tommy, is a childhood friend of Bruce who represents a twisted version of himself.

Both characters come from wealthy and privileged backgrounds, but Tommy has a difficult home life with an abusive father. He attempts to murder his parents, hoping to end his suffering and gain their inheritance-a plan that fails, largely because Thomas Wayne saves his mother. Tommy eventually becomes a surgeon, but he never overcomes his bitterness towards Bruce, ultimately transforming into the bandaged, psychologically disturbed villain known as Hush. Hush specifically targets both Batman and Bruce Wayne personally, making him a deeply personal adversary. This character was briefly hinted at in The Batman.

In The Batman, the Riddler uncovers that Thomas Wayne had hidden ties to a journalist named Edward Elliot. Elliot intended to reveal compromising information about Arkham Asylum and the Wayne family’s past, but he was killed before he could. This name isn’t a random choice-in the comic books, he’s an ancestor of Tommy. As if that wasn’t enough of a hint, the word “HUSH” briefly appears on the screen during this scene, suggesting that director Reeves had been foreshadowing this reveal all along.

Should Hush Be The Batman 2’s Villain?

There’s a compelling argument for Hush being the villain in The Batman: Part II. He aligns with director Reeves’ stated preferences for the character more closely than many of Batman’s usual enemies. Importantly, Hush hasn’t appeared in a major film before, giving filmmakers the opportunity to explore Batman’s extensive gallery of villains in a fresh way, instead of repeating familiar faces. Plus, adapting Hush’s most famous stories would create another compelling detective narrative – a mystery for Batman to unravel – which would be consistent with the style of Pattinson’s portrayal of the character.

The Batman’s Riddler fixated on Bruce Wayne, even as he focused his attacks on Gotham’s most corrupt people. The Riddler’s bitterness about Bruce’s privileged life, contrasted with his own hardships, suggested that Bruce’s very existence attracts enemies. The story of Hush would expand on this idea, exploring the consequences when someone from Bruce’s past seeks revenge and destroys his life. However, there’s a danger of repeating themes-Dano’s Riddler already showed some similarities to Hush-and that could be enough reason not to revisit it, even though Hush presents a much more significant physical danger to Batman than Edward Nashton did.

However, there are other strong possibilities. Mr. Freeze has always been a fan favorite, and a story focusing on his more sorrowful side – similar to his portrayal in Batman: The Animated Series, rather than Arnold Schwarzenegger’s humorous and chilly version – could be excellent. But that concept doesn’t quite align with the desire to explore untouched territory.

The Court of Owls feels like a natural fit, given Gotham’s history of secrets and conspiracies, but it might work even better as a long-term threat, serving as the ultimate villain for Pattinson’s Batman in a potential third film. Hugo Strange would also be a compelling choice, offering a chance to deeply explore the hero’s mind and present him with unusual challenges. Whether Reeves chooses Hush, one of the other candidates, or a completely new villain, he’s proven himself to be a reliable storyteller, and we can trust his decision will be the right one.

The Batman: Part II is scheduled to come out on October 1st, 2027. You can currently watch The Batman on HBO Max.

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2025-10-04 17:12