Barry Keoghan Expected to Return as Joker in ‘The Batman: Part II’

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Barry Keoghan is likely to reprise his role as the Joker in the upcoming sequel to The Batman, according to Variety. While he appeared briefly at the end of the first film in 2022—credited only as “Unseen Arkham Prisoner”—director Matt Reeves later confirmed his character’s identity.

We’re finally getting a clearer idea of what this long-secretive movie is about.

The Long Halloween Theory Explained

Last December, rumors began circulating that the sequel to The Batman would be influenced by the comic book The Long Halloween. Deadline initially reported that Scarlett Johansson was in talks to join the DC film. Because of this, and speculation that the sequel would feature Harvey Dent (also known as Two-Face), many believed Johansson would play Gilda Dent.

I’ve been following the news about the next Batman movie, and I’m really excited! Keanu Reeves has hinted that the main villain will be totally new to live-action, which is awesome. He also said it won’t just be a simple ‘who-done-it’ with a serial killer, thankfully. I loved the focus on organized crime in The Batman and The Penguin series, and it seems like that vibe is going to continue, drawing inspiration from The Long Halloween storyline – that’s exactly what I was hoping for!

The comic features a string of murders during the holidays, sparking a violent conflict between the city’s powerful gangs, who each blame the others for the crimes. As tensions rise, Harvey Dent’s mental state worsens, and a brutal attack—having acid thrown in his face—pushes him over the edge, transforming him into the villain Two-Face.

Barry Keoghan will reprise his role as the Joker in The Batman: Part II, mirroring a storyline from the comics. Specifically, the plot draws from The Long Halloween, where the Joker, feeling threatened by a new villain called the Holiday Killer, breaks out of Arkham Asylum to investigate. His investigation culminates in an attempt to poison a large crowd in Gotham Square on New Year’s Eve, hoping to eliminate his rival.

Having the Joker and Robert Pattinson’s Batman team up to chase a common enemy could create a compelling storyline. It also allows director Matt Reeves to hold off on using the Joker as the primary villain for a later film.

Hopefully, if a third Batman movie is made, it won’t experience the same production issues as the second one. The sequel was originally planned for release in October 2025, but has been delayed twice—first due to the writers’ strike in 2023, and then again in 2024 because the script wasn’t finished.

Despite the delays, Keoghan isn’t the only actor returning for the sequel.

Returning Cast and the Start of Production

According to Variety, Jeffrey Wright will reprise his role as Commissioner James Gordon, and Andy Serkis will return as Alfred Pennyworth. Colin Farrell is also back as Oz Cobb, better known as The Penguin, though he mentioned he doesn’t have a large part. He described the script as ‘extraordinary’.

Zoë Kravitz, who played Catwoman in The Batman, isn’t likely to appear in the sequel. Similarly, Cristin Milioti’s character, Sofia Falcone from The Penguin series, won’t be in the movie, although the director has suggested she might be used in a future project.

Sebastian Stan has recently been announced in an unspecified role.

Keanu Reeves recently mentioned to Variety that filming is planned to start around late April or early May. Now that the cast is assembled and production is nearing, we can anticipate more updates soon. A key question fans have is how significant a role Barry Keoghan’s Joker will have in the next Batman film.

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2026-01-07 17:56