‘The Batman’ Sequels Should Finally Bring These Villains to the Movies

For better or worse, The Batman is finally about to hit theaters. And when it does, the movie will feature not only Robert Pattinson’s debut as Bruce Wayne but also new versions of Catwoman (Zoë Kravitz), Riddler (Paul Dano), and Penguin (Colin Farrell). While a new version of Gotham City is bound to reintroduce some popular Batman characters, here’s hoping The Batman sequels will bring some fresh DC Comics villains to the big screen at last.

Deathstroke and Red Hood have only been teased

Fans were thrilled at the rumored prospect that Joe Manganiello’s Deathstroke would go toe to toe with Ben Affleck’s Batman in the latter’s solo movie. Alas, Deathstroke has only made cameos in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). The closest the character has come to movie stardom is the animated Teen Titans Go! to the Movies. But he’s a fan favorite villain and one that would make a great addition.

Moreover, the DCEU also hinted at the potential for bringing the Red Hood to an upcoming movie. The existence of Robin’s costume vandalized by the Joker (Jared Leto) in Affleck’s Batcave implied the Batman sidekick’s grisly demise in the comics’ “A Death in the Family” storyline was canon. Fans know how that led directly into the Red Hood’s introduction. While that version doesn’t fit with Robert Pattinson’s hero right now, the Red Hood is a villain ripe for adaptation in a future The Batman sequel.

Clayface and Hush have made animated appearances

Oftentimes, DC will whet fans’ appetite for a particular character or storyline through its animated projects. If that’s the case, then fans might be ready to finally see a variety of new faces on the big screen. Clayface — as voiced by Alan Tudyk — has become a breakout character on the animated Harley Quinn show. And a shape-shifting villain is unlike anything Batman has ever faced on the big screen so far.

But he’s not the only longtime Batman foe who would be perfect to appear in The Batman sequels. Hush, Hugo Strange, Killer Moth, Mad Hatter, Man-Bat, Solomon Grundy, and Ventriloquist all have yet to make their live-action movie debuts. And nearly all of these characters have made some appearances either in animated form or on TV series such as Gotham and Batwoman. Rather than rehash the same baddies, these villains deserve some love.

‘The Batman’ sequel will likely feature the Court of Owls

Perhaps the most likely element The Batman director Matt Reeves will include in a sequel is the Court of Owls. In the pages of DC Comics, the organization is a secret society made up of Gotham’s wealthiest citizens. And given the Riddler’s killing spree in the first film, that storyline can lead directly into the Court of Owls.

Moreover, the Court of Owls plays a pivotal role on Gotham. And its existence is far more grounded than many of the fantastical villains Batman has faced. The stage appears set for the Court of Owls to make its live-action film debut. So fans can probably count on some of the group’s most famous members to go along for the ride too.