Matt Reeves Drops Huge Clue: The Batman 2 Villain Will Dig Into Bruce Wayne — Never Been Done in a Movie
Director Matt Reeves has dropped new clues about who — or what — will oppose Batman in the sequel, saying the villain will dig into Bruce Wayne’s past and that it’s “never really been done in a movie before.” The Batman 2 is set to begin filming next spring, and Robert Pattinson is expected to return as Bruce Wayne and the Dark Knight. Meanwhile, Cristin Milioti won an Emmy for lead actress in a limited series for her role in The Penguin spinoff.
- Matt Reeves gave new hints about The Batman 2’s villain during an Emmy Awards red carpet interview.
- Reeves said the story will focus more on Bruce Wayne and that the villain will explore Wayne’s past.
- He added the choice is “never really been done in a movie before,” which rules out many established film villains.
- Possible fits mentioned include Hugo Strange and the Court of Owls, both of which have ties to Wayne’s history in the comics.
What Matt Reeves actually said
At the Emmys red carpet, Reeves described the sequel as a story that moves the focus from Batman to Bruce Wayne. He explained that he and co-writer Mattson Tomlin “did a deep dive into the Batman comics and watched a bunch of movies” to decide the tone and the antagonist.
Reeves said: “Picking the right villain that digs… into his past and his life, that was what sort of drove that discussion, and I won’t tell you where we ended up but I’m super excited about it.” He also added, “I will say it’s never really been done in a movie before.”
Which villains are effectively ruled out
Because Reeves emphasized a villain that digs into Wayne’s past and said the choice is new for film, several high-profile foes are unlikely based on previous movie appearances.
Specifically, that last note excludes the Joker (who made a cameo in The Batman played by Barry Keoghan) and Colin Farrell’s Penguin. It also makes Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn, Catwoman, Bane, Mr. Freeze, the Scarecrow, Two-Face, Ra’s al Ghul, and Talia al Ghul less likely, given their extensive film histories.
Who still fits the description
Reeves mentioned consulting comics for inspiration, so villains with *direct ties to Bruce Wayne or the Wayne family* stand out as better fits.
Two names that match that brief are Hugo Strange and the Court of Owls. Hugo Strange is a psychiatrist and criminal mastermind who has, in comics, used psychological methods to threaten Batman and uncover secrets. The Court of Owls is a secret society with deep ties to Gotham’s elite and to the Wayne family, introduced by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo in 2012.
Why those two make sense
Hugo Strange focuses on Bruce Wayne’s mind and identity, which aligns with Reeves’ aim to probe Wayne’s life. Meanwhile, the Court of Owls is explicitly tied to Wayne family history, so they would naturally put pressure on Bruce rather than just challenge Batman physically.
What we know about production and release
The Batman 2 is scheduled to begin filming next spring. Warner Bros. and Reeves have targeted an Oct. 1, 2027 release date for the film.
Final take
Reeves’ comments are concrete: the sequel will center more on Bruce Wayne and the villain will relate to his past. Beyond that, Reeves has not confirmed who the antagonist is, but he did rule out repeating characters that have already appeared widely in film. Therefore, Hugo Strange and the Court of Owls remain reasonable possibilities based on what Reeves said and what he and Tomlin researched.
