With The Batman – Part II officially on the way with a 2027 release date, a number of the first movie’s story threads were likely teases and setups for what’s next in the journey of Robert Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne.
Having been introduced to this brand-new version of Gotham and its Caped Crusader in the first movie, The Batman – Part II has several avenues to continue the story in some pretty exciting ways. Between Gotham’s flooded streets, new villains, and the expansion of Batman’s overall mission, this world envisioned by director Matt Reeves is primed for escalation.
From potentially hidden conspiracies, new villain teases, and unfinished rivalries, here are 8 ways 2022’s The Batman subtly set the stage for the upcoming sequel.
The Joker’s Debut In Arkham
In the third act of The Batman, Paul Dano’s Riddler finds an unexpected kindred spirit in Arkham Asylum: Barry Keoghan’s Joker. While brief, the conversation between the two inmates absolutely hints at something much larger. Likewise, their shared laughter and new “friendship” certainly teases a future alliance, while also signaling that Gotham’s madness has only just begun.
Joker’s introduction behind bars suggests he had already been active in Gotham long before Batman’s second year. Sure enough, Matt Reeves eventually released a deleted scene where Batman met with this “proto-Joker” in Arkham to get his opinion on the Riddler and his psychology, confirming their shared history where Batman put his nemesis away a year prior.
As such, continuing the relationship between Batman and Joker in The Batman – Part II as they both develop further would be fascinating.
Gotham’s Power Vacuum After Falcone’s Death
In 2022’s The Batman, Carmine Falcone’s murder at the hands of The Riddler left Gotham’s criminal underworld wide open. Falcone’s demise has absolutely set off the next phase of Gotham’s struggles with a massive power vacuum being created, considering how much influence Falcone had at every level of Gotham’s underworld, but also its corrupt institutions.
Likewise, the ending of The Batman specifically saw Colin Farrell’s Penguin poised to rise, an arc that has since been fulfilled in Penguin’s 2024 spin-off series.
The Penguin series has very much bridged the gap, with Oz Cob taking full control of Falcone’s empire and beyond. Now, The Batman – Part II is positioned to see Pattinson’s Dark Knight dealing with the consequences of Falcone’s fall and the resulting shake-up in Gotham’s dark status quo Bruce knew would occur (just as he claimed during The Batman’s final scenes).
Gotham’s Flooded Aftermath
The Batman’s citywide flood caused by Riddler and his followers was as symbolic as it was destructive, with Gotham literally and figuratively drowned by its own corruption.
The result is that streets are now in chaos with citizens being displaced, while crime is running rampant (The Penguin has proved as much). With The Batman – Part II expected to be set only a few weeks later, the upcoming sequel will most likely explore the city’s ruin and attempts at rebirth in the style of the classic No Man’s Land storyline from the original Batman comics.
With reformed crime syndicates and likely brand-new villains exploiting the chaos, this version of Gotham could be more dangerous than ever before on the big-screen, making the city and its struggles more vital to Reeves’ saga than has ever been seen before in past Batman movies.
Catwoman Leaving For Blüdhaven
The end of 2022’s The Batman also saw Zoë Kravitz’s Selina Kyle leaving Gotham. Heading for the neighboring city of Blüdhaven (the future home of Nightwing in the comics), Selina leaving Batman and putting their relationship on an uncertain cliffhanger does feel like a good sign that she’ll eventually make a return.
Then again, Catwoman’s absence could also be explored in The Batman – Part II, with Bruce Wayne perhaps finding some other potential love-interest from the comics, like reporter Vicki Vale or socialite Silver St. Cloud.
Batman’s New Crusade – Vengeance Isn’t Enough
By the end of The Batman, Bruce comes to understand his sole focus on vengeance and inspiring fear in the hearts of criminals isn’t enough for Gotham. The innocent need hope and justice just as much as the city’s criminal element requires vengeance and fear.
As such, Batman rescuing several Gothamites from Riddler’s flood is a defining moment. The Dark Knight has become Gotham’s true protector, having evolved into a symbol of hope as he understands that he must become more than “Vengeance” alone.
The Batman – Part II will likely give us a more evolved Dark Knight compared to the one he got in the first movie, having gone beyond the confines of his original crusade.
Teases For Hush, A Major Batman Villain
Many fans of the Batman comics likely noticed the name “Elliot” in the footage released by Riddler about Thomas Wayne’s scandal and how he tried to cover up a story that would have exposed his wife’s troubled past, a scandal which ended with Carmine Falcone killing reporter Edward Elliot who had refused to take Wayne’s “hush” money.
It’s widely assumed that this is a nod to the classic Batman villain Tommy Elliot aka Hush. It’s a quick reference, but feels too specific to be accidental. Considering The Batman’s focus on legacy and corruption, Hush fits perfectly for a sequel.
In the comics, Tommy was a childhood friend of Bruce turned enemy, waging a psychological war on Bruce/Batman as an adult.
Seeing as how there’s more to the Wayne family’s history that could still be revealed, The Batman – Part II could easily lean into that paranoia, giving us a villain who knows The Dark Knight as both Bruce and Batman, perhaps in this universe as the son of Edward Elliot seeking revenge.
Teases For The Court of Owls
Another potential thread for new villains could come from Gotham’s elite with the secret cult of corrupt, untouchable figures manipulating events from the shadows known as The Court of Owls. The secret society could easily be revealed following the demise of Falcone, driving Gohtam into greater chaos as they perhaps clash with unwanted figures like Batman, though perhaps Penguin as well.
A relatively newer addition to Batman’s wide list of rogues, The Court of Owls is a vast network of influential figures, using undead assassins known as Talons to carry out their bidding and shape the course of Gotham’s history as they see fit. It would be amazing to see them as a major new threat in The Batman – Part II.
“Gotham Loves A Comeback Story”
During Riddler’s conversation with Joker in Arkham Asylum, the classic arch-foe played by Barry Keoghan ominously comments, “Gotham loves a comeback story.” The implication is that both Joker and Riddler could easily return in future installments to face Batman and wreak havoc in Gotham once more.
As Gotham struggles to rebuild itself with its own comeback, one could easily see a future chapter of Matt Reeves’ saga where the comeback of key Batman villains threaten to get in the way of the city’s rebirth.
At any rate, it’s going to be fascinating to see which threads and potential pieces of set-up are ultimately picked up for The Batman – Part II.
The Batman – Part II releaes in theaters on October 1st, 2027
