It’s been approximately four years since Matt Reeves introduced a new cinematic Batman and made one of the most acclaimed superhero films of the 2020s, and there’s no overstating the hype for The Batman: Part Two. Robert Pattinson’s first outing as the Dark Knight was such a massive critical success that even James Gunn’s plans to introduce a separate DCU Batman were careful not to step on the toes of Reeves’ burgeoning universe; his one movie already led to a TV show spin-off, The Penguin, as well as plans for more.
The Batman was a mystery in its bones, and there’s already an air of mystery surrounding the sequel, from conflicting reports regarding who’s playing who to the lack of details concerning the plot. The comics could be a basis for speculation, but Matt Reeves’ first film showed fans that he has no problem remixing storylines for the sake of adaptation, considering he used bits and pieces from The Long Halloween, Earth One, and Zero Year without committing to any of them. But a cheeky detail in a recent leaked set photo may point to a very specific villain and storyline, one fans have long hoped Reeves would be inspired by.
