The Joker Not Returning for The Batman 2 Might’ve Quietly Been Confirmed

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Production on The Batman Part II has officially begun after a period of delays and script revisions. If all goes well, the movie is still scheduled to be released in October 2027. While details about the plot and characters are still under wraps, fans are eagerly anticipating more information. Director Matt Reeves has assembled a stellar cast, including Marvel actors Sebastian Stan and Scarlett Johansson, along with Charles Dance and Brian Tyree Henry.

The upcoming sequel, The Batman Part II, will bring back many of the original cast members from the 2022 film, including leads like Robert Pattinson, Colin Farrell, and Andy Serkis. Supporting actors Con O’Neill and Gil Perez-Abraham, who played key police officers, are also returning. While the cast is impressive, Barry Keoghan, who memorably portrayed the Joker in a post-credits scene, won’t be appearing in the sequel.

Barry Keoghan’s Joker May Not Be In The Batman Part II

To celebrate the start of filming for The Batman Part II, director Matt Reeves announced the cast list on social media over two days. He first confirmed the actors returning from the first film. Notably absent from the initial announcement was Barry Keoghan, leading many to believe he won’t be reprising his role as the Joker. While reports in January suggested Keoghan would return, Reeves’ recent updates indicate otherwise.

The main reason Keoghan might not return to The Batman universe is his commitment to a new Beatles biopic directed by Sam Mendes. Mendes is creating four films, each focusing on a different member of the band, and they’re all being filmed now with a planned release in 2028. Given the extensive filming schedule, Keoghan will likely be occupied with playing Ringo Starr for quite some time, making a significant return to The Batman films unlikely. He might be able to make a quick appearance, but a larger role seems improbable.

It’s unlikely Matt Reeves intentionally avoided tweeting about Barry Keoghan to create a surprise. If Keoghan were in the sequel, Reeves would likely have already confirmed it, as he’s previously highlighted both lead and supporting characters like Gotham police officers and Mayor Bella Reál. While Keoghan’s initial appearance as the Joker was a secret for maximum impact, fans already know his role now, so keeping his return a secret wouldn’t be as exciting. People are eager to find out if he’ll be back, and another drawn-out reveal would likely feel underwhelming.

It’s notable that Paul Dano’s Riddler wasn’t featured in any of Matt Reeves’ recent social media posts about the sequel. The last time we saw the Riddler, he was in Arkham Asylum, connecting with the Joker, who hinted at Gotham’s love for a good redemption arc. This suggested a potential team-up between the two villains in a future film. However, based on Reeves’ tweets, it seems fans will have to wait quite a while for that to happen, as neither the Joker nor the Riddler will appear in The Batman Part II.

Will Barry Keoghan’s Joker Return At All In Matt Reeves’ Batman Franchise?

If Barry Keoghan doesn’t reprise his role as the Joker in The Batman Part II, it wouldn’t be a huge shock. He wasn’t necessarily intended to be the main villain in the sequel. Instead, there’s been speculation about other classic Batman enemies like Hush, the Court of Owls, and Mr. Freeze potentially taking center stage. While many plot details are still under wraps, it seems the Dent family will be important to the story. Stan is expected to play the district attorney, with Johansson as Gilda Dent and Dance as Harvey Dent’s father. Stan has hinted that Harvey might be on the path to becoming Two-Face in the new film.

Although The Batman Part II isn’t the end of the series, director Matt Reeves is already planning a third film, and hopes it won’t take as long to make as the sequel. While the story for The Batman 3 is still unknown, it’s likely the Joker will be involved – Reeves wouldn’t have included a scene with him in the first film without a purpose. Even though The Batman tells a complete story on its own, it also set up future installments by hinting at possibilities. The idea of the Joker and the Riddler teaming up after escaping Arkham is a strong storyline that the filmmakers will probably explore further.

It appears Matt Reeves intends to use the Joker in a future Batman film, but he likely felt the second movie wasn’t the right moment. The Riddler had just been committed to Arkham in the first film, so bringing him back so quickly in the sequel wouldn’t have made sense. Instead, Reeves used The Batman Part II to delve into other aspects of Gotham’s world, essentially putting both Riddler and Joker on hold. This allows fans to anticipate their eventual return, making it a bigger event when they do reappear.

As a huge Batman fan, I get why people are clamoring for other villains to get their due in The Batman 3. There are so many great options! But honestly, you can’t really tell a complete Batman story without the Joker. He’s just that iconic. I think it would feel incomplete if Matt Reeves’ trilogy ended without giving the Joker a really substantial role. Plus, Barry Keoghan has become a real star since his brief appearance in the first film, and bringing him back as the main villain for the finale just feels like the right move. It would be a satisfying payoff for everyone.

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2026-06-03 23:12