Matt Reeves, director of The Batman, released a 4k version of Barry Keoghan's scene as Joker.Earlier today, Warner Bros. released a deleted scene from The Batman showing Keoghan's Joker at Arkham State Hospital. In the five-minute clip, Bruce Wayne/Batman Robert Pattinson) discusses the Edward Nashton/Riddler (Paul Dano) case with Joker.The Clown Prince of Crime teases Batman, comparing him to the Riddler.
In the theatrical cut of The Batman, Keoghan appeared the end of the film, following Riddler's incarceration in Arkham. While Keoghan was credited as "Unseen Arkham Prisoner," his dialogue heavily indicated that he was, in fact, Joker. Reeves later confirmed Keoghan played a proto-Joker in the film. That same interview saw Reeves reveal the reason he cut the above clip from The Batman was because he didn't think it fit well with the larger narrative. However, the ending scene with Riddler and Joker in the film helped to complete the former's arc.
Prior to the release of The Batman, Keoghan was initially thought to be playing Gotham City Police Department officer Stanley Merkel. However, in November, his brother seemingly confirmed his role as Joker, though the production did not affirm that casting. While Keoghan, whose credits include Druig in 2021's Eternals, played a version of Joker in The Batman, Reeves said the character might not necessarily appear in a sequel.
Set in the second year of the Dark Knight's crime-fighting career, The Batman sees the titular vigilante investigating the Riddler. As the film progresses, though, Batman learns of a deep conspiracy and finds himself tangling with such classic characters as Selina Kyle/Catwoman (Zoë Kravitz), Carmine Falcone (John Turturro) and Oswald Cobblepot/Penguin (Colin Farrell).
Financially, The Batman has proven a success for Warner Bros., earning more than $609 million against a budget of $185 to $200 million and despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a critical score of 85 percent, which makes it one of the highest-rated live-action Batman projects on the review aggregator. Currently, there are plans for spinoffs on HBO Max, one of which focuses on Farrell's Penguin. There's also another that explores Arkham, which grew from a now-canceled GCPD-centered series.
The Batman is in theaters now.
Source: Twitter