After the success of The Batman, DC Studios and Warner Bros. may be developing another film centered around the unlikely villain, Professor Pyg.

Matt Reeves' The Batman was a major box office hit during a couple of record-low years for the studio. Starring Robert Pattinson, the film sets up an entirely new version of the beloved hero. Reeves' follow-up, The Batman Part II, has already been announced by DC, with many of the same returning cast members, including Zoë Kravitz as Catwoman, and possibly a new Batman villain.

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However, according to a recent rumor reported by trustworthy industry insider Daniel Richtman, Reeves is already developing a third film with the studio. Richtman claims this new film will feature the lesser-known villain, Professor Pyg. Reeves' The Batman already features villains like Paul Dano's Riddler, Colin Farrell's Penguin, and even a glimpse of Barry Keoghan's Joker. Still, from the pool of eccentric Batman villains, Professor Pyg is a surprising choice. Also known as Lazlo Valentin, Pyg is one of Bruce Wayne's most twisted adversaries. The skilled surgeon is known for kidnapping Gotham citizens and using drills, hammers, and ice picks to transform victims into "dolltrons," an obedient army with the faces of dolls. Whether a Pyg film would also feature Pattinson's Batman remains unknown.

While the character is obscure, a Professor Pyg film would fit into Reeves' darker and more gothic Batman world. Although Reeves' Batman universe will continue at DC, it's important to note that his films and Pattinson's version of Batman are not part of James Gunn's new DCU. According to Gunn, Reeves' films will exist in their own canon, separate from the greater DC Universe. Other "Elseworlds" projects from the studio include Todd Phillips' Joker.

Gunn is reportedly resetting the franchise yet again for the DCU. He will hire a new cast and creative team for the upcoming Batman:The Brave and the Bold, much like he is doing with Superman: Legacy. There are few details about his new take on The Dark Knight, and Gunn has already shut down one Batman casting rumor. However, another more credible rumor suggests he will bring on the award-winning screenwriter of James Bond Skyfall, John Logan.

With the possibility of two upcoming Reeves films, Colin Farrell's The Penguin series coming to Max, and an entirely new DCU Batman saga, it's clear that there will be no shortage of Batman-related content in the coming years. Remaining one of the most popular superheroes of all time, the Batman IP is a major box office selling point. However, amid widespread superhero fatigue, Reeves' decision to focus on a more obscure villain as the subject of his new film could be the surprise audiences need to keep them interested. Given the success of The Batman, Reeves' darker, more adult vision for Gotham seems to resonate with fans.

The Batman is currently streaming on Max.

The Batman

PG-13

Crime

Action

Drama

Directed by the visionary Matt Reeves, Robert Pattinson plays a dark, gritty, and tormented caped crusader looking to save his home from the corruption that eats at it, and the criminals looking to destroy it. With a stellar cast of Andy Serkis, Zoe Kravitz, Collin Farrell, and Jeffrey Wright, The Batman takes a new approach to Gotham's protector, one not seen since the Nolan trilogy.

Release Date

March 4, 2022

Director

Matt Reeves

Runtime

176 minutes

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Source: Daniel Richtman/Patreon