I’ve got some exciting intel to share about the future of Barry Keoghan’s Joker character within the DC universe. According to sources on the Marvelvision podcast, Keoghan is in talks to return as the Clown Prince of Crime, but not in the planned “The Batman Part”II”—instead, he’ll be the main villain in “The Batman Part III.”
But that’s not all. This news is most intriguing because Keoghan’s Joker will star in his own Max series leading up to “The Batman: Part III.” This makes a lot of sense considering the success of the recently launched “The Penguin” series, which has been putting up impressive viewership numbers since its debut in September.
Keoghan’s Joker made a brief but impactful appearance near the end of Matt Reeves’ “The Batman” in 2022, showing up as an unnamed Arkham Prisoner who engages in a chilling conversation with Paul Dano’s Riddler character. Since then, there have been rumblings that the character would have a much larger role to play in the upcoming sequels.
It now looks like that expanded Joker storyline will unfold primarily in the new Max series rather than in “The Batman: Part II.” According to the report, Reeves is planning to shoot that sequel early next year, with Robert Pattinson, Colin Farrell, Zoe Kravitz, Jeffrey Wright, and Andy Serkis all set to reprise their roles. However, it is likely that Keoghan’s Joker will only make a cameo appearance in “Part II,” setting the stage for his big showdown in the trilogy capper.
Reeves has been very deliberate and secretive about the development of his Batman universe—and for good reason. After decades of Batman movies, he’ll have a tough time topping Christopher Nolan’s acclaimed Dark Knight trilogy. But by expanding the world with supplementary series like “The Penguin” and now the Joker project, Reeves is building out a rich tapestry of Gotham City and its infamous rogues gallery.
This new Joker series will also allow the character to get a fresh reboot, coming on the heels of the mixed reception to “Joker: Folie à Deux,” the upcoming sequel to the 2019 Joaquin Phoenix film. Many have praised Keoghan’s portrayal of the Joker, highlighting his chilling, unsettling performance in the deleted scene from “The Batman.” Giving him his own show will let the actor fully dive into the character’s complexities and provide a strong foundation for his eventual clash with Pattinson’s Batman.
Of course, the success of “The Penguin” series will be a key factor in how much faith Warner Bros. and HBO Max have in this Joker expansion. But if they can achieve the same level of fan engagement, it will set the stage for an epic showdown between the Dark Knight and his most infamous adversary. Batman fans have a lot to look forward to in the coming years as Reeves’ vision for the character continues to take shape.