Reports have confirmed that Scarlett Johansson is in talks to play a villainous role in The Batman 2. However, there have been conflicting rumors regarding precisely what that role is or is not. This has left fans speculating as to just what the mystery role is, based on what little is known about the story of the highly anticipated sequel.
The villain Scarlett Johansson is most likely to play in The Batman 2
Director and co-screenwriter Matt Reeves has kept the story of The Batman 2 under wraps. It is known that the story will involve the Gotham City underworld and that Colin Farrell is returning as The Penguin. Reeves has also hinted at a new love interest, since Zoë Kravitz is not returning as Catwoman. Reeves also confirmed, in an interview with Josh Horowitz, that the villain has “never really been done in a movie before.” That narrows the field considerably, given that there are relatively few female villains with whom Batman was romantically linked.
Not Poison Ivy
Poison Ivy was far and away the fan-favorite theory for a villainous lover in The Batman 2. This possibility seemed even more likely in the wake of reports that Emma Stone had been offered the role before Scarlett Johansson. Stone has been a popular fan cast for Poison Ivy for several years. However, there are several reasons why this is unlikely.
First, Poison Ivy appeared in 1997’s Batman and Robin, played by Uma Thurman. While it could be argued that version of the character was a poor adaptation of the comics, Reeves seemed to be suggesting the villain had never been adapted at all. Additionally, when Jeff Sneider first reported on Scarlett Johansson being in talks for the role, he added that the villain “won’t be Poison Ivy, by the way…” Even with Ivy off the table, there are still several possibilities.
Andrea Beaumont / Phantasm
Phantasm was originally created for the 1993 animated movie Batman: Mask of the Phantasm. However, the character was later brought into the comics in 2021. The movie introduced Andrea Beaumont, a lost love who almost convinced Bruce Wayne to give up being Batman. Unfortunately, tragic events and her own efforts to avenge her father’s death as the violent vigilante Phantasm forever tainted their relationship.
Phantasm would be an ideal role for Scarlett Johansson in The Batman 2. The character is a capable fighter who can match Batman, and the tragic romance would fit her oeuvre. The chief issue here, however, is that Phantasm was originally created for a movie, albeit an animated one. This would seem to violate what Matt Reeves said about the villain having “never really been done in a movie before.”
Dr. Harleen Quinzel / Harley Quinn
After Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn is easily the most famous female villain in Batman’s rogues gallery. While originally created as a sidekick to The Joker, the character eventually liberated herself in the comics and became more of an anti-hero. However, variants of her in other adaptations have stuck to her villainous origins.
While Scarlett Johansson is capable of portraying a tormented, broken figure like Harley Quinn, it seems unlikely. Again, we have Reeves’ promise that the villain of The Batman 2 would tread new ground. Beyond that, both Margot Robbie and Lady Gaga have played live-action variants of Harley Quinn recently. It seems unlikely Johansson would be interested in playing any role that would inevitably compare her to what other actresses had already done.
Astrid Arkham / The Arkham Knight
First appearing in 2019’s Detective Comics #1000, Astrid Arkham was a scion of the family that established Arkham Asylum. Her mother died early in Batman’s career, as he was trying to stop a riot at the asylum. One of the inmates recovered a Batarang and killed Astrid’s mother with it. This led to her developing a psychotic hatred of Batman. She developed a cult, the Knights of the Sun, and took on the mantle of the Arkham Knight to destroy the Dark Knight.
The Arkham Knight certainly hasn’t been adapted for any DC Comics movies. Additionally, Jeff Sneider reported a rumor that “there’s another male villain as well — possibly Doctor Arkham.” If this is true, it might hint that the main villain is the Arkham Knight. The chief problem here, however, is that the Dark Knight of The Batman 2 has not been around long enough for the Astrid Arkham background to really fit. The character’s background would also suggest a younger actress than Scarlett Johansson.
Vicki Vale / Lady Arkham
First appearing in 1948’s Batman #49, Vicki Vale was originally created to be the Dark Knight’s version of Lois Lane. The spirited reporter tried repeatedly to prove that Bruce Wayne was Batman. In the reality of Batman: The Telltale Series, Vicki Vale was originally Vicki Arkham, who sought revenge on the Wayne family for their role in the death of her parents. This concept might tie into the rumors of Doctor Arkham being a male villain in the movie.
Once again, the big question here is whether Reeves’ comment on the villain “never really been done in a movie before” allows for improper adaptations. While Vicki Vale was the love interest in the 1989 Batman movie, she was far from the antagonistic figure she was in the comics. An interesting twist for The Batman 2 could be Vicki Vale being portrayed as a muckraker trying to expose Gotham City’s vigilante for her own glory. While that is an interesting idea, it would seem to be a waste of Scarlett Johansson’s talents and training in stage combat.
Gilda Dent / Holiday
The wife of Harvey Dent, Gilda Dent was seemingly a happy homemaker with dreams of starting a family. Unfortunately, her husband’s commitment to bringing down the mob in Gotham City led to him spending more nights at the office than with her. This pushed her to murder several members of the Falcone family in Batman: The Long Halloween. As her attacks all came on major holidays, she was given the nickname Holiday.
Harvey Dent has been adapted for the movies several times, as has The Long Halloween. Yet none of those adaptations made use of the character of Gilda Dent. This would seem to meet the main criteria Matt Reeves offered regarding the villain of The Batman 2. It’s also possible the male villain could be Harvey Dent, who becomes Two-Face at the end of The Long Halloween. This story also ties into the ongoing conflict within the underworld of Gotham City and the fortunes of the Falcone family. The only real point against this theory is that Gilda Dent, as presented in the comics, would not offer an avenue for Scarlett Johansson’s combat training.
