Highlights
- DC Studios CEO James Gunn debunked rumors that certain villains would appear in The Batman 2, shutting down speculation.
- Hush won't be featured as the new big bad, as it would be too similar to The Riddler's storyline in the first movie.
- Colin Farrell's Penguin is likely to return in the film, given DC's upcoming limited series The Penguin.
DC Studios CEO James Gunn has debunked another widespread rumor regarding which villains Robert Pattinson's Batman will face down in The Batman 2.
Gunn has made a habit of swiftly debunking any incorrect rumors swirling around upcoming DC films and, in particular, misinformation about the highly anticipated sequel to The Batman. Gunn has already had to clarify that Matt Reeves' The Batman and any subsequent movies will be categorized as Elseworlds projects, despite rumors that the franchise would be incorporated into the greater DCU.
In a recent post on Threads, Gunn had to curtly shut down another widely believed rumor that beloved DC villains, including Professor Pyg, Scarecrow, Clayface, and Hush, would appear in the upcoming sequel. "Nope. Totally made up," Gunn replied when asked about the theory, shutting down any further speculation on the topic. He also confirmed there will be no Dick Grayson AKA Robin in The Batman 2, disappointing many Batman comics fans who predicted that Robin would play an important role in the film. Fan responses to the new information may be mixed, but the general consensus is that people love watching Gunn pop up in various comment threads to demolish ridiculous rumors and unverified hearsay.
While there is still some speculation around when and if these villains will ever appear in any Elseworlds or DCU projects, many fans are relieved to hear that Hush won't be featured as the new big bad, due to similarities between Hush and The Riddler. Like The Riddler, Hush also wants revenge on Batman for ruining his life, and a Hush/Batman story may be too similar to the original movie which starred Paul Dano in the supervillain role opposite Pattinson. While the appearance of certain new villains has been debunked, other scoopers have suggested that Dano has already signed on for the next film, meaning we may see more of The Riddler, perhaps in a smaller role. Fans are also likely to see the return of Colin Farrell's Penguin in the film, given that DC's limited series The Penguin is set to release on Max in 2024, and will serve as a bridge to The Batman sequel.
While it can be fun to follow scoopers and indulge in speculative discourse, it's important to remember that rumors are, by nature, unverified, and should be taken with a big pinch of salt until they are confirmed one way or another by an official source. However, thanks to Gunn's active social media presence, fans typically don't have to wait long for any untrue DC-related gossip to be officially dismissed.
The Batman is currently streaming on Netflix and Max.
Source: James Gunn|Threads
