I recently wrote an article about potential villains for the upcoming fourth Disney Spider-Man film, where I focused on avoiding overused villains like Green Goblin and Electro. This time, I’m taking a different approach when discussing Batman’s rogues gallery in Matt Reeves’ universe.
Table Of Content
The Limitations of Matt Reeves’ Batman Universe
Matt Reeves, director of The Batman (2022) and producer of HBO’s Penguin, made some notable creative choices to keep his version of Gotham grounded. For instance, he changed the Penguin’s name from Cobblepot to Oz Cobb because “Cobblepot” felt unrealistic. His version of The Riddler was reimagined as a serial killer and internet extremist rather than a flamboyant mastermind.
Despite rumors that Mr. Freeze could be the villain in The Batman – Part II, it seems unlikely. A cryogenic gun-wielding villain doesn’t quite fit in a world grounded in realism. This eliminates several classic Batman villains, including:
- Man-Bat
- Ra’s al Ghul
- Clayface
- The Ventriloquist
- Mr. Freeze
Villains Who Deserve a Cinematic Reinvention
While many major Batman villains have already appeared in past films, some were not used effectively and could benefit from a fresh take.
RELATED: Who should be the villain(s) of Spider-Man 4?
Overused Batman Villains in Live-Action
Before diving into my picks, let’s recap some of the most frequently adapted Batman villains:
- The Joker: Appeared in live-action seven times, portrayed by actors like Jack Nicholson, Heath Ledger, Joaquin Phoenix, and Barry Keoghan.
- Penguin & Catwoman: Prominent in Batman Returns (1992), Gotham, and The Batman (2022).
- Riddler & Two-Face: Starred in Batman Forever (1995).
- Mr. Freeze & Poison Ivy: The main villains of Batman & Robin (1997).
While Freeze and Ivy were done dirty by Batman & Robin, neither fits Reeves’ gritty crime saga. However, two previously used villains do stand out as strong contenders:
Scarecrow: Gotham’s True Master of Fear
Cillian Murphy’s Scarecrow (Dr. Jonathan Crane) appeared in Batman Begins (2005), but his role was overshadowed by Ra’s al Ghul. He wasn’t even the inventor of his own fear toxin!
Scarecrow would fit perfectly in Reeves’ Gotham, where fear is a central theme. The opening of The Batman already showed criminals paralyzed with terror at the thought of encountering the Caped Crusader. Imagine a villain who amplifies that fear to terrifying new levels.
Plus, Scarecrow doesn’t need superpowers—he’s just a deranged psychologist who uses hallucinogens to torment his victims. We even got a glimpse of a similar character in Penguin’s Dr. Julian Rush (played by Theo Rossi), hinting that Reeves’ Gotham is already full of twisted mental health professionals.
Two-Face: Gotham’s Fallen Knight
Aaron Eckhart’s Two-Face (Harvey Dent) was a standout in The Dark Knight, but his time as a villain was disappointingly brief—he only appeared in his scarred form for the last 15 minutes.
Two-Face is an ideal villain for Reeves’ world because:
- He’s completely grounded, with no supernatural abilities.
- His former friendship with Bruce Wayne adds emotional weight.
- His duality reflects Batman’s own struggle between justice and vengeance.
A full movie exploring Harvey’s tragic descent into madness could be both compelling and heartbreaking.
Final Thoughts
Scarecrow and Two-Face feel like natural choices for Reeves’ vision. They align with his crime-driven, psychological thriller approach, and both characters have plenty of unexplored potential.
What do you think? Would you want to see these villains in The Batman – Part II? Or do you have another pick for the next great live-action Batman villain?
