Few superheroes have had to reinvent themselves for the movies or television as often as Batman. From the 1940s serials on, his story has been told and retold numerous times, leading to open speculation on how much is too much. Among its other virtues, The Batman put to rest the notion that filmmakers were running out of takes on the character. Sure, the field is crowded enough to make a subpar effort much riskier than it used to be, but a talented director with a vision for the Caped Crusader will always be able to avoid franchise fatigue.
The same holds true for his greatest foe, as a recently released cut scene from The Batman reveals. The Joker has produced an embarrassment of riches in terms of high-profile performances, including two Oscar-winning turns in the role and a handful of alternate takes that could legitimately compete with them. Conventional wisdom held that The Batman didn’t need a Joker, preferring instead to concentrate on alternate villains like Paul Dano’s Riddler. But while it may not have required a Clown Prince of Crime, the one it has suggests that he, too, may be a long way from worn out.
In addition to the late Heath Ledger’s groundbreaking performance in The Dark Knight and Joaquin Phoenix’s headliner in Joker, Mark Hamill’s Joker from Batman: The Animated Series regularly tops the list of fan favorites. That still leaves the likes of Jack Nicholson, Jack Galifianakis, John DiMaggio and Cesar Romero all in extremely high standing among Batman lovers. Conversely, Jared Leto struggled to leave a lasting impression in the role and was ultimately outshone by Margot Robbie’s magnificent Harley Quinn.
But with so many great Jokers out there, it's difficult to understand what another performance could bring to it all. In fact, everyone seemed to understand the need to bring in a new member of Batman’s very deep rogue’s gallery rather than risk another ho-hum Joker who fought to make an impression for The Batman. And with Dano creating an instant classic as The Riddler -- a character with substantially fewer onscreen incarnations -- a new Clown Prince of Crime felt superfluous and unnecessary. Of course, Barry Keoghan’s version of the character appeared ever-so-briefly in The Batman anyway, but while fans enjoyed the glimpse, no one was calling for more.
The release of the deleted scene changes that, however. It depicts Robert Pattinson’s Batman seeking out The Joker for his thoughts on the Riddler’s modus operandi. Chained at the neck, covered in scars and with a truly unsettling laugh, he dishes insight not only on the Riddler but on the Dark Knight himself. Indeed, he suggests that Batman may be far closer in temperament to his foes than the vigilante cares to believe and that his willingness to consult The Joker means that their connection is more than superficial.
The character brings a number of components together in a way that is wholly unique and yet still instantly recognizable. Besides his disturbing appearance -- all broken skin and badly shaved hair with only the barest hints of his traditional green-and-white visage -- it’s one of the few versions to focus on his twisted love for Batman. “It’s almost our anniversary, isn’t it?” he purrs at his foe’s arrival, suggesting that the obsession is mutual. In his mind, The Riddler is a brief flirtation in their ongoing relationship, a pretender to his singular spot in Batman's heart.
And The Batman knows exactly where to borrow that energy from. The cut scene resembles nothing so much as a sequence from The Silence of the Lambs with Bruce Wayne playing the questioning Clarice Starling to The Joker’s Hannibal Lecter. It’s close enough to recognize yet never approaches the level of rip-off -- combining with the physical look, Keoghan’s verbal performance and Matt Reeves’ unnerving ability to hide key details from the viewer to create something entirely new. It’s very much in keeping with The Batman’s vision of Gotham, yet it couldn’t be anyone but The Joker, which is proof that this particular clown is always one memorable performance away from a comeback.
To see Barry Keoghan’s debut as The Joker, The Batman is in theaters now.