Note: The article reveals the content of The Batman.
Batman and Joker are one of the most famous rival pairs in DC in particular and the comic universe in general. Although the main antagonist in The Batman is the Riddler, in fact the Clown Prince of the criminal world has also appeared in this blockbuster, and will most likely become Bruce Wayne’s main enemy in the upcoming movie projects. next.
Joker is not revealed publicly in The Batman, but only in the final scene, when he chats with Riddler in Arkham Prison. Despite being detained, but somehow, Joker is still aware of the crimes that Riddler has committed, and offers to befriend him.
Based on his talking attitude, wild laughter, and a few glimpses of a smile stretching from ear to ear, it is not difficult for the audience to realize that the mysterious prisoner talking to Riddler is the Joker. And it seems that director Matt Reeves has no intention of hiding it either. However, compared to previous Joker versions, the crazy clown of The Batman universe is a little different and will be explored more carefully in future projects.
Who plays the Joker in The Batman?
If we follow the end credits, we will realize that all the actors have their roles listed very clearly, except for 1. That’s Barry Keoghan. The 29-year-old star appeared in the credits with the name “unseen Arkham prisoner”. Then, director Matt Reeves suddenly confirmed that the person talking to Riddler in the final segment of the movie was the Joker.
Combining these two details, it can be confirmed that Barry Keoghan is DC’s new Clown Prince of Crime and the biggest rival of Batman played by Robert Pattinson. Before that, superhero movie fans also knew Barry through his role as Druig in Marvel Studios’ blockbuster Eternals.
Joker in The Batman possesses a characteristic monstrous smile, not due to “practice”.
Although he didn’t intend to hide the Joker’s appearance, director Matt Reeves also cleverly arranged the camera angle so that the character was not completely revealed in The Batman. Therefore, the audience still does not know the official shape of the criminal Clown Prince in DC’s new cinematic universe – one of the factors that often causes controversy whenever the Joker role is remade.
It’s worth noting that director Matt Reeves has confirmed that Barry Keoghan’s version of Joker has had his monstrous smile since birth. It was actually a congenital disease, not because he deliberately acted to create a highlight for himself. Some viewers even believe that from the angle of The Batman, they saw the Joker’s smile as a long, ragged scar, quite similar to DC Comics’ New 52 revision.
Speaking to IGN, Matt Reeves said: “Joker has a birth defect that makes him unable to stop smiling. I think that’s a difference, not like he fell into a giant vat of chemicals, and also unlike Christopher Nolan’s version, where the Joker has scars on his face for unknown reasons. . That’s why I came up with the idea that Joker has a disease that can’t stop laughing since birth, causing him extreme pain and negative reactions about it. He has always been despised and shunned by others throughout his life, but is very good at infiltrating the mind as well as manipulating the opponent.“.
Joker’s illness makes him always consider himself a clown
With a monstrous birth defect, Barry Keoghan’s version of Joker of course also has many differences in his thoughts and personal views, about the world as well as about himself. Director Matt Reeves said Joker has always considered himself a clown because his whole life was a cruel joke. It was so cruel that it made him lose his direction, lose his ability to control himself, and gradually step into the path of sin.
This idea will be explored more thoroughly by Matt Reeves in The Batman 2 or The Batman 3. Currently, the male director is in no hurry to bring Joker back to the big screen.
The Batman has cut a scene between Bruce Wayne and Joker in Arkham prison, when Joker becomes an advisor to help Batman defeat the Riddler.
Director Matt Reeves also confirmed that Batman and Joker could have met on the big screen right in The Batman, but this scene was later deleted in the official release.
Too powerless to uncover the Riddler, Batman managed to break into the Arkham Asylum to seek help. Surprisingly, the person he wanted to “confer” was Joker – one of the biggest opponents throughout his superhero career. However, later, Matt Reeves decided to cut this segment, because he thought it was not really necessary for the overall storyline of The Batman.
Does that mean Batman and Joker have clashed in the new cinematic universe?
Since Joker is also present in Arkham prison, some fans believe that he has faced Batman in the past, then was defeated and locked here. And the above cut scene has partly confirmed this hypothesis. Director Matt Reeves did not reveal too much about the relationship between Batman and Joker in the new cinematic universe, but he confirmed that it was true that the two characters had “slightly collided” before, and the result was Joker. was sent to Arkham.
Speaking to Variety about the footage that was cut, Matt said:When they meet again, Joker tells Batman: “It’s almost our anniversary, isn’t it?” That will help the audience understand that these two characters have known each other before, Joker has committed something and was imprisoned by Batman in Arkham.“.
Matt Reeves’ share shows that it is possible that one of the future projects will be a prequel to The Batman, when the Batman confronts the Joker. However, based on the segment between Joker and Riddler, it is almost certain that the Clown Prince of crime will break out of Arkham to once again confront the Dark Knight on the big screen.
Like Batman, Barry Keoghan’s version of Joker is still quite “young and green”
Nominally, Barry Keoghan is truly the Joker in Batman’s new universe. However, director Matt Reeves has confirmed that, like Robert Pattinson’s Batman, this is still just a fledgling version of the Joker, not really developing into a villain that makes everyone afraid.
In an interview with IGN, Matt said The Batman is like a collection of characters’ backgrounds related to Batman, while also hinting that “Joker hasn’t really evolved into a real Joker yet“.
Will Joker return in The Batman 2?
After the final scene of The Batman, many viewers will probably assume that the sequel will focus on the Joker, as he teams up with the Riddler (and possibly a number of other villains), to destroy Batman. However, as mentioned above, director Matt Reeves doesn’t want to bring the crazy clown back too hastily.
He said: “The scene between Joker and Riddler doesn’t mean front and back at all. Don’t think: “This is an important easter egg, so the next movie has to be like this”. I do not dare to confirm whether Joker will appear in the next project or not. But keep in mind that all you’re looking at here are the “young” versions of the characters in the Batman world. And trouble, as always, lurks, smoldering in Gotham City“.
Matt Reeves also has a reason to decide to temporarily “store” Joker away in upcoming films. The Batman has sprinkled a lot of premise details to welcome the appearance of other villains, such as Hush, Two-Face, or even the return of Penguin and Riddler. It’s clear that Matt is in no rush to bring Joker back to the big screen. Instead, it would be a lot more interesting if in each film, the clown silently recruited Batman’s defeated soldiers, like he did with Riddler, and then rose together to destroy the city’s hero. Gotham Street.
According to ScreenRant