Highlights
- 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.
As is the norm now, DC's Batman has received a new movie interpretation in the form of Matt Reeves' The Batman, starring Robert Pattinson in the lead role. This version of the Caped Crusader exists in a more grounded and 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.
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With the sequel coming on October 2, 2026, not much is known about the plot of Batman's next adventure. The only thing fans know for certain is that the next villain will need to be tweaked significantly to fit this series' more realistic tone. As such, there are only a few rogues in his gallery that could possibly appear in The Batman 2.
5 The Joker
The Opposite To Batman, The Perfect Nemesis
Batman and The Joker are two sides of the same coin, as one is determined to use their madness to put a stop to crime in Gotham while the other is happy to cause as much chaos as possible. The two characters are so intertwined that The Joker even made an appearance in The Batman, played by Barry Keoghan. The villain appears briefly at the end to talk with The Riddler in Arkham Asylum and is also seen in a deleted scene being questioned by Batman.
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It is clear that these two characters have shared a history together in this universe already, but it does not look like Matt Reeves is ready to commit to using this villain just yet. Therefore, it is highly likely that The Joker will appear in The Batman 2, but he won't be a major threat until later in the franchise.
4 Clayface
A Shape-Shifting Murderer Continues A Trend Of Killings
In the Batman comics, Clayface is a shapeshifting pile of clay that can transform into anyone at will. As a result, he can pose both a physical and mental threat to Batman. However, this version of the character is too fantastical to fit the grounded universe that was set up in Matt Reeves' first movie. Therefore, it is unlikely that fans will see this version of the villain appear in The Batman 2.
Fortunately, Clayface's backstory works well enough to fit into this type of Noir detective story. 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 crimes. Having a character like this able to change his identity would make for a great mystery, and so an adapted version of Clayface would make for an interesting villain in the upcoming sequel.
3 Bane
A Challenge For Batman Both Physically & Mentally
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. If so, the perfect way to do that is by pitting him against Bane.
A towering mass of muscles, Bane is a powerful mercenary who is trained in all manner 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, which also makes him a dangerous adversary. The Batman even showed Bruce Wayne using a similar green liquid in the final fight against The Riddler's goons, so perhaps that was a subtle nod that Bane would be coming to Gotham in The Batman 2.
2 Two-Face
A Good Man, Corrupted By Indecent Times
Two-Face is a rare type of Batman villain who fits in all types of media. As a former lawyer called Harvey Dent, this man was turned to villainy when he was scarred by acid in court. Now, Two-Face commits crimes by using a coin to make all of his decisions for him. Therefore, he could be a larger-than-life cartoon villain with an army of henchmen or a subtle character with a tragic backstory.
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Some interest in Two-Face could also come from the parallels of his story to Dick Grayson, how tragedy turned Harvey into a monster, yet only fueled the heroism within Dick Grayson when his parents were murdered, adding a deeper sense of justice to The Batman.
1 Mr. Freeze
A Scientist With A Tragic Backstory
There have been very few Batman villains in history who fans have taken to as Mr Freeze. This icy killer is a former scientist who uses his gadgets and influence to commit crimes in an effort to save his dying wife from an illness. His sympathetic backstory has been shown perfectly in the episode of Batman: The Animated Series, Heart of Ice, and not so perfectly in the 1997 movie Batman and Robin.
It seems that many fans are happy to see Mr. Freeze on the big screen again, as this complex character is the perfect way to provide Batman with a new mystery to solve, while also testing his moral compass. Plus, it would be great if this villain got some redemption after the Arnold Schwarzenegger version.
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