Summary
- The Batman sequel in 2026 promises a more realistic tone, hinting at major villain tweaks to keep fans engaged and surprised.
- Characters like The Joker, Bane, and Mr. Freeze could make intriguing appearances in The Batman 2, each bringing unique challenges.
- Two-Face stands out as a villain with a tragic backstory, offering a blend of darkness and depth for Batman to face in upcoming films.
In 2022, the world was given The Batman as part of Matt Reeves' The Batman Epic Crime Saga universe, starring Robert Pattinson in the lead role. This version of the Caped Crusader exists in a darker version of Gotham, and he is more reliant on his detective skills than ever before, providing fans with a fresh yet accurate take on the Batman mythos, which fans are eager to see again for The Batman Part 2.
5 Batman Movies With The Best Stories, Ranked
There have been plenty of Batman movies through the ages, but these are the ones that stand out for their narrative strength.
With the sequel arriving on October 2, 2026, little is known about the plot of Batman's next adventure. However, the world that Matt Reeves has built up has the potential to introduce one or several villains to join The Batman Epic Crime Saga, ranging from mercenaries to other twisted serial killers from the comics.
Updated on November 13th, 2024, by Melody MacReady: Now that The Penguin series has come and gone, it not only tells a praise-worthy story about a vile criminal rising in Gotham City, but it sets up storylines and characters like the Penguin to play a role in The Batman Part 2. It also establishes the possibility of other characters through its lore and themes that fit the overall style of Matt Reeves' world. Matt Reeves' The Batman Epic Crime Saga features a strong balance of grounded realism and comic book elements, similar to what Matt Reeves brought to Batman: Caped Crusader on Amazon Prime, and that series could be a hint at what he has in mind for villains in his cinematic Batman universe, and in particular, his sequel to The Batman.
15 Julian Rush
This Underused Character Could Be A Secret Villain
- First Appearance: The Penguin
- Real Name: Julian Rush
- Known For: Obsessed with helping Sofia Gigante for unknown reasons
In The Penguin series, audiences are introduced to Julian Rush, a mysterious doctor working at Arkham Asylum who sides with Sofia Gigante in her fight against her family. He is also partially responsible for the drug Bliss, as it was what was used to keep the patients at Arkham in a drug-induced happiness.
This has led to fan theories that Julian Rush is not who he seems, but rather an alias for a more famous villain. A drug like Bliss being the experiment of an Arkham doctor could be a hint at Jonathan Crane, AKA Scarecrow, who is all about drugs that alter the mind. However, Hugo Strange is another famous villain, a mad scientist obsessed with controlling the minds of his patients.
14 The Phantasm
Fits The Themes Of The Batman Epic Crime Saga
- First Appearance: Batman: Mask Of The Phantasm
- Real Name: Andrea Beaumont
- Known For: Twisting Batman's methods and framing him
With The Batman, Riddler: Year One comic, and The Penguin series, there is a common theme of hate against the upper classes throughout the stories, especially with Riddler trying to kill all of Gotham City's elite. If The Batman Part 2 continues this, The Phantasm would be an ideal villain to use, as they are a villain who goes after the corrupt officials and gangsters of Gotham.
Originally introduced in Batman: Mask Of The Phantasm instead of the comic books, the titular villain from this animated movie is a grim reaper-inspired villain who uses similar methods as Batman, but brutally murders their victims. The Phantasm is Andrea Beaumont, a love interest of Bruce Wayne's, and is also descended from the elite. She is trying to rid the city of the powerful people involved in her father's death, a cause that fits with Reeves' Batman universe and could also tie back to The Penguin.
13 Black Mask
The Scariest Gotham City Crime Lord
- First Appearance: Batman #386
- Real Name: Roman Sionis
- Known For: Crime lord with a black skull-shaped mask
With a universe called The Batman Epic Crime Saga, that name suggests that crime and corruption are going to be a recurring theme in Matt Reeves' stories. After Carmine Falcone's death, Penguin wouldn't be the only one trying to fill the void and take control of Gotham City, and Black Mask would be an ideal threat to Batman.
Roman Sionis and Bruce Wayne feature many similarities: they come from wealthy families, inherited major Gotham City corporations, and dress up to unleash who they truly are. They are both sons of Gotham, but Black Mask uses his mask to hurt the innocent and sieze control of the city, which would make for an ideal rivalry with Batman.
12 Killer Croc
There Could Be More Than Batman Lurking Under Gotham
- First Appearance: Batman #357
- Real Name: Waylon Jones
- Known For: A former wrestler turned sewer-dwelling supercriminal
Even though Matt Reeves is sticking to a more grounded take on Batman's lore, Waylon Jones is a character who could still fit. He is an unfortunate man born with an extreme case of atavism, a skin condition that gives him scale-like skin and earns him the name Killer Croc after which he becomes a wrestler and criminal enforcer.
The idea of Killer Croc is not all that much more ridiculous than a green-clad domestic terrorist or a man dressing up as a bat to fight crime. Plus, there is such a focus on Gotham's underground between the Batcave and Penguin's lair, which opens up an opportunity to introduce Killer Croc as a threat to both Batman and criminals alike.
11 The Joker
The Opposite of Batman, The Perfect Nemesis
- First Appearance: Batman #1
- Real Name: Unknown
- Known For: Creating chaos with colorful clown-inspired acts
Batman and The Joker are two sides of the same coin; justice and chaos are embodied as iconic rivals since the Joker commits some of the worst atrocities. The two characters are so intertwined that The Joker even appeared again in live-action in The Batman at the end to talk with The Riddler in Arkham Asylum and, in a deleted scene, being questioned by Batman.
The Best Batman Villains Who Haven't Been In The Movies
Batman has one of the best rogues' galleries in comics, yet the movies have only scratched the surface of his library of villains.
It is clear that these two characters have shared a history in this universe already, but it does not look like Matt Reeves is ready to commit to making him a main villain. Therefore, it is highly likely that The Joker will appear in The Batman Part 2, playing a Hannibal Lecter-esque role helping Batman catch villains such as in the deleted scene, yet won't be a major threat until later in the franchise.
10 Clayface
A Shape-Shifting Murderer Continues A Trend Of Killings
- First Appearance: Detective Comics #40
- Real Name: Basil Karlo
- Known For: Shape-shifting and Thespian gimmicks
In the Batman comics, Clayface is a shapeshifting pile of clay that can transform into anyone at will. As a result, he can pose a physical and mental threat to Batman. Matt Reeves recently brought the character to life in Batman: Caped Crusader with a portrayal that fused his Golden Age and modern-day origins for the best of both worlds.
Originally an actor named Basil Karlo, an unfortunate accident leaves the former Thespian with the ability to change form, an ability he uses to commit murders. Having a character able to change his identity would make for a great mystery and action. Thus, an adapted version of Clayface would make for a villain unlike any other seen in previous Batman films.
9 Victor Zsasz
The Most Believable Serial Killer In Gotham City
- First Appearance: Batman: Shadow of the Bat #1
- Real Name: Victor Zsasz
- Known For: Tally marking his skin for every kill
Few villains are as terrifying as Victor Zsasz when it comes to Gotham City, nor are they as evil. Matt Reeves has already shown that he is willing to push the limits with some of the twisted murders The Riddler committed in The Batman and Zsasz would fight right into The Batman Epic Crime Saga.
Victor Zsasz is a character that, sadly, is not that hard to see happening in the real world. He's a nihilistic sadist who murders his victims, poses them to his liking, and then carves tally marks into his skin to mark the occasion. Such a disturbing character would make a perfect side or main villain in a new Batman movie.
8 Bane
A Challenge For Batman Both Physically & Mentally
- First Appearance: Batman: Vengeance of Bane #1
- Real Name: Unknown
- Known For: Breaking Batman's back
The Riddler was a great villain to use to test this version of Batman and his intellectual skills. As such, many fans believe that the sequel will continue this trend. However, Matt Reeves could always go in another direction by testing this Batman through strength, pitting him against Bane. The two have become fierce rivals in the comics, almost as much as Batman and Joker.
A towering mass of muscles, Bane is a powerful and evil mercenary trained in all manners of combat, and his mind is almost as sharp as the Caped Crusader's. However, Bane uses a special chemical, Venom, to increase his strength, making him a dangerous adversary for Batman, something that was missing from the previous cinematic take on Bane.
7 Man-Bat
A Monstrous Villain Straight Out Of A Horror Movie
- First Appearance: Detective Comics #400
- Real Name: Kirk Langstrom (or Francine Langstrom)
- Known For: Transforming into a giant bat monster
An anthropomorphic bat monster like Man-Bat may seem a bit too much, but Matt Reeves has accomplished such creatures with Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes and its sequel. One of the most praised elements of The Batman was that it tip-toed into horror territory with not only The Riddler but also with the titular superhero being feared by Gotham's criminal element.
The inclusion of Man-Bat could continue that horror side of his universe, since such a creature would give anyone nightmares, as shown by having a terrifying introduction in Batman: Arkham Knight. On top of that, the story could be rather tragic since it originates from Kirk Langstrom trying to cure deafness.
6 Deathstroke
So Different, Yet So Similar To Batman
- First Appearance: The New Teen Titans #2
- Real Name: Slade Wilson
- Known For: Being a major threat to the Teen Titans
A common trope in comic book movies is having a hero fight a villain who is a dark equivalent and Deathstroke fits that. With contingencies for every scenario, mastery of all forms of martial arts, and a plethora of gadgets, Slade Wilson is uncannily similar to Batman and one of the DC universe's most dangerous assassins.
The inclusion of Deathstroke would also be a nice full circle for The Batman since Matt Reeves' movie originally began as the Ben Affleck Batman movie for the DC Extended Universe and Deathstroke was going to be the villain. With Batman causing such a major blow to Gotham's underworld, someone like the Penguin could hire Deathstroke to eliminate Batman.