After The Batman 2 Updates, The Batman 3 May Actually Be Repeating The Dark Knight

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The next Batman movie, currently titled The Batman – Part II, will be the first sequel to The Dark Knight in over a decade. Fans have been waiting since the first film’s release in 2022, and the release date has been delayed a few times – it’s now expected in October 2027. Despite James Gunn and Peter Safran’s plans for a new DC Universe, Robert Pattinson will continue to play Batman in a separate storyline, at least for now.

Even though it faced some setbacks, the superhero sequel is now progressing well. Production is scheduled to start in April 2026, and actors like Scarlett Johansson and Sebastian Stan are joining the cast of The Batman 2, switching from Marvel to DC. Stan’s involvement is especially interesting, potentially extending beyond this film and into a third installment, possibly mirroring the villains from Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight. Rumors suggest he’ll be playing Harvey Dent, leading to speculation that the sequel could lay the groundwork for a similar villain arc in a future movie.

The Batman 3 Could Reuse The Dark Knight’s Villains – But Is That A Problem?

If Harvey Dent appears in The Batman – Part II, it’s probably to begin his journey towards becoming the villain Two-Face in a potential third movie. The films are planned as a trilogy, and while plans can change, it’s likely the series will continue. Director Matt Reeves has stated the sequel’s main villain hasn’t been featured in a Batman film before, meaning Two-Face won’t be the primary threat this time around, but could emerge as the antagonist in the third installment.

In addition to Paul Dano returning as the Riddler, Barry Keoghan is also reprising his role as the Joker in The Batman 2. However, he’s not anticipated to be the primary antagonist, suggesting he’ll likely have a supporting role, similar to his brief appearance in the first film’s deleted scenes. There’s also a possibility he’ll escape from Arkham. Given the groundwork laid in the first two movies, it’s reasonable to expect The Batman 3 will finally feature a full-blown showdown between Pattinson’s Batman and Keoghan’s Joker.

If this setup seems familiar, it’s because the Joker and Two-Face were the villains in The Dark Knight. That movie featured the most famous version of the Joker and showed Harvey Dent’s tragic fall into becoming Two-Face all within one film, though the public ultimately believed he remained a hero. While The Batman 3 could still surprise us – especially since it’s still years away – everything is currently aligning for a similar story to the classic DC film.

Does focusing on a few villains repeatedly hurt Batman stories? Not really. While Batman has a wide range of interesting enemies who haven’t been featured much, some of those deserve a chance in the spotlight. However, villains like the Joker and Two-Face are popular and memorable for a reason – they’re just incredibly captivating characters.

The possibilities are endless, and I have complete faith in Matt Reeves to create something new and compelling. Batman is a timeless story that’s constantly reinterpreted for each generation, and that same approach can work for his villains. This new iteration doesn’t need to surpass The Dark Knight; it just needs to be unique, and it clearly has everything it needs to achieve that.

I’m really excited for The Batman – Part II to come out on October 1st, 2027! And if you’re looking to watch The Dark Knight, it’s currently streaming on HBO Max.

What are your thoughts on Harvey Dent potentially appearing in The Batman 2? Share your opinion in the comments and discuss it with other fans in the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-02-03 23:40