As Matt Reeves gears up for getting involved in the sequel to The Batman (2022), an air of mystery is surrounding the project. While Colin Farrell’s Penguin is all set to reappear in the sequel, the other antagonists in the story are yet to be revealed. Amongst the many names doing the round, Barry Keoghan’s Joker seems like a plausible option to many. After he already made a cameo appearance in the 2022 flick, his response to a query has further fueled the rumors.
Is Barry Keoghan going to reprise his role in The Batman 2?
While the Riddler proved an able antagonist to Robert Pattinson’s Batman in the Zoe Kravitz starrer, Barry Keoghan‘s Joker attracted many eyes. After all an actor of the ilk of the Saltburn star is essaying the role of one of the Caped Crusader’s primary nemesis.
What intrigued the fans further was that his cameo has teased the fact that he will have an important role to play going forward. No wonder that many have taken his presence for granted in the sequel. But Keoghan has remained tight lipped about the future yet.
Barry Keoghan is looking forward to the possibility of playing The Joker once again
While initially credited as Arkham Asylum Inmate, it would be later confirmed by Reeves that Barry Keoghan was in fact playing the role of the Joker. Though Matt Reeves was quick to rule out that his cameo was an easter egg of sorts, it is anybody’s guess that if a Batman sequel is materializing, The Joker will somehow creep into the story.
And Barry Keoghan has prompted many to believe that he might be in the running for a spot in The Batman 2. In a conversation with E Talk, the Dunkirk star said,
“I can’t really say anything about that. It would be exciting, wouldn’t it? To see the Joker come to life again. My smile says all, you know what I mean?”
But as the hour draws nigh, he seems to be growing a little more confident (and cheeky) about his DC future.
When questioned regarding whether or not he sees himself returning as the Joker, Keoghan had the most tongue-in-cheek reply. He said,
“We’ll see where that goes… yeah, that’s all I can say!” (Twitter)
Seems like he is playing his cards close to his heart. Just how Gotham’s Clown Prince of Crime would have. While it is anybody’s guess that his response might be a mere mechanism to throw off fans, the statement Reeves made post the success of The Batman might indicate that there can be no certainty about who actually makes the cut for the film.
With Keoghan unable to serve his purpose in the movie, and Farrell’s Penguin finding himself in the limelight following the release of The Penguin, Joker might yet have to bide his time in Arkham Asylum. That would be a shame though. And no one would know that better than the Cloverfield director.
With the script for The Batman 2 locked up, it is only a matter of time before the rumor mill is able to confirm his return or absence from the project. But fans are in anticipation of his return. And this time in a more prominent role.
