Sebastian Stan in Talks for ‘The Batman: Part II’ — Could He Be Two-Face?

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With each new actor announced for the DC Elseworlds series, it’s starting to feel like the early, highly successful days of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Deadline recently revealed that Sebastian Stan is in discussions to join Matt Reeves’ The Batman: Part II, and now there’s speculation he might play the villain Two-Face.

If the agreement goes through, Stan, known for his role as Bucky Barnes in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, will probably work with Scarlett Johansson again, as she also starred in Marvel Cinematic Universe films.

Rumors are swirling that Matt Reeves’ next Batman film will be inspired by the comic book series The Long Halloween, and that actress Johansson is being considered to play Gilda Dent. Jeff Sneider initially reported that the movie would include Harvey Dent (also known as Two-Face), his wife Gilda, and Harvey’s father. Now, Sneider is suggesting that actor Stan is a potential candidate to play Harvey Dent, the Gotham City District Attorney who ultimately loses his mind.

BREAKING: Sebastian Stan joins THE BATMAN PART II!

— Jeff Sneider (@TheInSneider) January 6, 2026

Last September, Robert Pattinson mentioned in an interview with Variety that filming for The Batman: Part II was likely to start late this spring. Meanwhile, Sebastian Stan is set to appear in Avengers: Doomsday, which will be released this December, but it’s uncertain if his character will make it through the movie. If his character doesn’t return for Avengers: Secret Wars, Stan might be free to join the cast of the new Batman film.

By casting Johansson and now Stan, Reeves is assembling a cast of experienced genre actors. This also subtly suggests dissatisfaction with how Disney has treated two well-loved MCU characters and the actors who portrayed them.

Unrealized Potential in the MCU

Scarlett Johansson first appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2010 with Iron Man 2. Her character, Natasha Romanoff, also known as Black Widow, quickly became a fan favorite. Sadly, by the time Marvel decided to make a Black Widow movie, the character had already died in Avengers: Endgame. Despite this, Johansson agreed to star in a film that told Black Widow’s story before the events of Endgame.

Despite being a popular character, the film Black Widow earned $379 million globally. Scarlett Johansson believed this was partly due to Disney releasing it in theaters and on their streaming service, Disney+, at the same time. Her contract included extra pay based on box office success, and she sued Disney when she didn’t receive it, eventually reaching a $40 million settlement. Since then, Johansson has stated she no longer plans to appear in Marvel Cinematic Universe films.

I’ve been watching Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier since the very first Captain America movie back in 2011, and I just saw him in Thunderbolts last summer. While he hasn’t had the same public contract disputes as Scarlett Johansson, a lot of us fans think Bucky’s character hasn’t been given the attention and development he deserves, honestly.

Instead of getting Captain America’s shield directly from Steve Rogers like many expected, Sam Wilson, played by Anthony Mackie, ultimately received it and the Captain America title. Meanwhile, Bucky Barnes’s character was unexpectedly made a U.S. senator – a surprising turn considering his history as a brainwashed assassin.

Viewers often thought the heroes weren’t fully developed. Now, as villains in The Batman: Part II, Stan and Johansson might finally get a chance to really shine and leave a lasting impact.

A Chance for Strong Villains

In The Long Halloween, a string of murders connected to different holidays sparks a violent conflict between Gotham City’s most powerful gangs. This escalating violence takes a heavy toll on District Attorney Harvey Dent’s mental state. After a brutal acid attack disfigures him, Dent completely snaps, transforming into the villain Two-Face. The story later reveals that Dent’s wife initiated the killings, desperately trying to relieve Harvey’s pressure and create a peaceful life for them both.

I’m really excited about the direction Matt Reeves seems to be taking with the next Batman movie! If they cast Stanley as Harvey Dent/Two-Face, I think he could absolutely nail the role – it would be such a complex and interesting performance. It feels like a long wait until October 2027, though! I guess we’ll all be eagerly awaiting the first trailer to get a better idea of what’s in store.

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2026-01-08 00:57