‘the Batman’ Teases Iconic Villain at Film’s End With Barry Keoghan
- Warning: There are massive spoilers ahead for “The Batman.”
- Barry Keoghan makes a minor appearance at the end of the film, teasing a major Batman villain.
- During a Q&A Insider attended, director Matt Reeves said the villain is exactly who you think it is.
“The Batman” is full of the Dark Knight’s famous villains, but it also teases his greatest foe near the film’s very end.
When the Riddler (Paul Dano) is locked up in Arkham Asylum, the psychiatric hospital and prison for Gotham City’s high-profile baddies, he’s placed in a cell next to a mystery prisoner, played by Barry Keoghan (“Eternals”).
“Isn’t that just terrible, him raining on your parade like that?” the prisoner, whose face is obscured, says to the Riddler, referring to Batman.
“What is it they say? One day you’re on top, the next day you’re a clown,” he continues, adding, “Don’t be sad. You did well. Gotham loves a comeback story.”
The film’s official credits simply refer to Keoghan as “unseen Arkham prisoner.”
But as he speaks, it’s not difficult to guess that Keoghan’s unmistakable laugh, his mention of the word “clown,” the hint of some scars on his face, and a few curly locks are supposed to be nods to an early version of the Joker.
Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images, DC Comics
“He’s who you think he is,” Reeves told a small group of press, including Insider, last month during a Q&A for the film when coyly asked if the Riddler’s “friend” at the film’s end was the Joker.
“I would say the thing about the movie is that it isn’t a Batman origin story, but it is the origin story of every rogues’ gallery character that you come across. Right?” he continued. “So Selina Kyle is not yet Catwoman, and the Penguin is not yet the kingpin, and the character that you’re referring to is not yet the character that you’re referring to, but it is in fact him.”
Fans probably aren’t surprised to see Keoghan as a version of the Joker.
In November, Keoghan’s brother commented on a piece of fan art depicting the actor as the iconic villain. In a deleted Facebook post he wrote, “So it’s finally out My Brother playing the JOKER in the new Batman.”
The film sets up a future Riddler and Joker team up
DC Comics
The scene between Dano’s Riddler and Keoghan’s character hints at a possible collaboration between the two classic Batman villains in a future sequel.
When Riddler asks Keoghan’s character his identity he says, “Well, riddle me this. The less of them you have, the more one is worth.”
He offers the Riddler the one thing he’s been searching for — friendship.
As far as friendships go, Ed could do a lot better. But as we learned, this version of the Riddler is lonely, impressionable, and desperate for connection. And the scene ends with him looking more than pleased.
If they team up, they’ll be a pretty deadly combination. However, the two headstrong personalities usually clash and can never see eye to eye long enough to work together.
The two were previously the focus of 2017’s “The War of Jokes and Riddles” eight-part series by Tom King and Mikel Janín.
DC Comics
The story, which follows a younger Batman a little over a year into his crime-fighting pursuits, fits with Reeves’ universe right down to a darker version of the Riddler. But instead of siding together to take down the Bat, the two wind up at war with one another.
We wouldn’t be surprised if the Joker, ever the manipulative opportunist, uses Nashton’s smarts to his advantage to help break him out of Arkham Asylum so he can get his time to shine in Gotham. But it would be more fun to see the two cause mayhem together rather than try and destroy one another.
Reeves and Robert Pattinson teased another way to incorporate the Joker into a sequel
During the film’s Q&A back in February, Pattinson and Reeves both discussed how they’d move their story forward beyond “The Batman.”
The two both spoke of their love for 1988’s popular “Death in the Family” comic story from Jim Starlin and Jim Aparo in which a young Jason Todd (the second Robin) is brutally murdered by the Joker.
“People are so scared of it, but it’s kind of exciting,” Pattinson said of the story. “I think it would be a really fun addition.”
DC Comics
Reeves agreed with Pattinson, adding: “I also like ‘Death in the Family.’ And I think the idea of being able to approach some of those stories and think, ‘How can we do this in a way that feels fresh and ground it in a way like, ‘Look at the scary thing’ and see if there’s a way to do it.”
“The question is, will we be too scared? But I think we should try,” Reeves added of exploring a darker story on screen.
At the film’s U.K. red carpet premiere, Reeves said he’s already started discussing a sequel, though he didn’t add what it may entail.
—VENGEANCE🦇 (@Bat_Source) February 23, 2022
“We are already telling other stories in the
space. We’re doing stuff on
. We’re doing a Penguin show with Colin [Farrell], which is gonna be super cool, and we’re doing some work on some other stuff too,” Reeves said in an interview that started circulating online. “We have started talking about another movie, but, you know, right now we’ll just put it out in the world. I’ll try to enjoy this.”
Could the Joker be a part of it? Perhaps. You don’t just tease Keoghan and then shy away from it.
You can read our review of “The Batman” here.
