Upon its release, the second theatrical trailer for The Batman set the Internet ablaze. One of the upcoming film's most intriguing mysteries concerns the secrets of the Wayne family, and the second trailer continues to tease this while also hinting that the Waynes may have a much darker connection to Gotham City than previously expected. In particular, the marketing for The Batman seems to hint that Thomas and Martha Wayne will be revealed as members of the Court of Owls.
In the source material, the Court of Owls is a secret society that has controlled Gotham from the shadows for centuries. The Court's membership consists of some of the city's most powerful and influential citizens, who enforce their rule using an army of undead assassins called Talons. Initially believing them to be an urban myth, Batman eventually learns the truth about the sinister group and vows to take them down.
The Court of Owls' involvement in The Batman has been rumored ever since the film's teaser trailer was released, which featured an owl-themed card left at a crime scene by the Riddler. Since then, the movie's promotional material has dropped several hints that the secretive society will be revealed as the main villains, while also suggesting that Riddler's discovery of their existence is the reason for his turn to evil. Some of the film's more recent marketing materials, including the newly released trailer, have actually taken this one step further, hinting that Riddler may be interested in Bruce Wayne because his parents were involved with the Court.
A recurring theme throughout The Batman's trailers has been Riddler's obsession with exposing the lies and secrets of Gotham City's elite, particularly the Wayne family. The newest trailer also reveals that the mysterious villain has uncovered Bruce's secret identity of Batman, while another major moment features Bruce confronting Alfred Pennyworth about a family-related secret that has been kept from him for his entire life. Additionally, various shots from the three trailers show Bruce trying to follow up on clues related to the sins of his father.
All of this seems to suggest that the Court of Owls will be revealed as the secret puppet masters controlling Gotham in The Batman. Riddler has likely discovered their existence and decided to exact vengeance on the shady cabal by forcing its members to pay for what they have done to the city. After discovering the Waynes' involvement, it stands to reason that he would go after the last surviving member of their family, only to end up in the middle of a more intriguing mystery when he learns that Bruce Wayne is the vigilante who prowls the city's rooftops at night.
Because the Court of Owls is such a major part of Gotham City's DNA, their inclusion could add a through-line that could help connect the installments of Reeves' planned trilogy. The first film could reveal the machinations of the Court to Batman and the audience, while its sequels could follow the Dark Knight's investigation into the group's inner workings. Reeves clearly plans to pull the curtain back on the mysteries of Gotham in The Batman, and in doing so, he has a golden opportunity to finally bring the city's most nefarious group to the silver screen.
To find out if Thomas and Martha Wayne are part of the Court of Owls, The Batman releases in theaters on March 4, 2022.