WARNING: The following contains spoilers for The Batman, in theaters now.
Ever since it was revealed to be in its own universe, many have theorized about how Matt Reeves’ The Batman would play out. And even when it was eventually revealed that the villains of the film would be Catwoman, The Penguin and The Riddler, fan theories about who else could show up still ran rampant. Chief among them was whether or not a certain Clown Prince of Crime would appear, and suspicions only grew stronger with the mysterious casting of Barry Keoghan.
Now, with the movie’s release, audiences were finally getting to see the culmination of all of these rumors. The truth is essentially what most expected it to be, though it’s also far more artistic and creative than imagined. This could all have massive implications for the future of Reeves' universe, as well as give Batman his greatest foe. Here’s the truth behind who Keoghan’s villain really is.
Who Does Barry Keoghan Play in The Batman?
Near the end of The Batman, The Riddler is safely apprehended and taken to Arkham Asylum, which has already appeared previously in the story. The inmate in the cell next to his isn’t shown, but his presence is definitely recognizable and unavoidable. He tells The Riddler, aka Edward Nashton, that the two are going to become friends and notes that Gotham City loves a comeback. He also states that there are far worse things to be than a clown, further cluing audiences in on his identity. This is all before the mysterious figure bellows out a cacophonous laugh, which is instantly recognizable as Joker’s.
That scene is only one of the two intended moments with the Joker, who is indeed played by Barry Keoghan (credited as Unseen Arkham Prisoner). The other scene, which was cut, involved Batman trying to get information while in Arkham, and Keoghan’s role was even more obvious. Reeves mentioned this scene recently, adding essentially the final fuel to the fire about the Clown Prince of Crime's inclusion. But now that his role has been revealed, the biggest mystery now is what’s next for the new Joker.
The Joker in The Batman Universe
The presence of The Joker in the Reeves' universe is definitely to be expected, as he’s easily the most iconic villain in Batman’s rogues' gallery. The very fact that his presence is only hinted at with his laugh says it all, as the villain’s aura has transcended even needing to be on-screen. Nevertheless, he might not show up directly in the next movie.
Instead, Joker’s next appearance could be in the Gotham PD tv series or the other planned spinoffs, showing how he ended up in Arkham in the first place. Though having an outright origin story might not be the way to go, earlier misadventures could be used to differentiate him from past interpretations, including the recent Joaquin Phoenix version. This will allow a sort of buildup to his confrontation with Batman, ensuring that the whole affair doesn’t feel too trite or similar to past movies. All in all, everyone knew what was going to happen the second that the rumors started flying, but as always, it seems like The Joker is the one getting the last laugh.
To see The Joker return to the big screen, The Batman is in theaters now.