{"id":123349,"date":"2025-11-09T02:43:15","date_gmt":"2025-11-09T02:43:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/123349\/"},"modified":"2025-11-09T02:43:15","modified_gmt":"2025-11-09T02:43:15","slug":"8-ways-the-batman-part-ii-was-set-up-in-the-first-movie","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/123349\/","title":{"rendered":"8 Ways The Batman Part II Was Set Up In The First Movie"},"content":{"rendered":"

With The Batman \u2013 Part II<\/a> officially on the way with a 2027 release date, a number of the first movie\u2019s story threads were likely teases and setups for what\u2019s next in the journey of Robert Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne. <\/p>\n

Having been introduced to this brand-new version of Gotham and its Caped Crusader in the first movie, The Batman – Part II<\/a> has several avenues to continue the story<\/a> in some pretty exciting ways. Between Gotham\u2019s flooded streets, new villains, and the expansion of Batman’s overall mission, this world envisioned by director Matt Reeves is primed for escalation. <\/p>\n

From potentially hidden conspiracies, new villain teases, and unfinished rivalries, here are 8 ways 2022’s The Batman subtly set the stage for the upcoming sequel.<\/p>\n

The Joker\u2019s Debut In Arkham<\/p>\n

\"Barry
\n Barry Keoghan’s Joker is just out of focus in The Batman<\/p>\n

In the third act of The Batman, Paul Dano\u2019s Riddler finds an unexpected kindred spirit in Arkham Asylum: Barry Keoghan\u2019s Joker. While brief, the conversation between the two inmates absolutely hints at something much larger. Likewise, their shared laughter and new “friendship” certainly teases a future alliance, while also signaling that Gotham\u2019s madness has only just begun.<\/p>\n

Joker\u2019s introduction behind bars suggests he had already been active in Gotham long before Batman\u2019s second year. Sure enough, Matt Reeves eventually released a deleted scene where Batman met with this “proto-Joker” in Arkham<\/a> to get his opinion on the Riddler and his psychology, confirming their shared history where Batman put his nemesis away a year prior. <\/p>\n

As such, continuing the relationship between Batman and Joker in The Batman – Part II as they both develop further would be fascinating.<\/p>\n

Gotham\u2019s Power Vacuum After Falcone\u2019s Death<\/p>\n

\"Oz
\n Oz Cobb\/The Penguin (Colin Farrell) looking out his window at the chaotic Gotham City in The Penguin Season 1 Episode 1Image via Max<\/p>\n

In 2022’s The Batman, Carmine Falcone\u2019s murder at the hands of The Riddler left Gotham\u2019s criminal underworld wide open. Falcone’s demise has absolutely set off the next phase of Gotham’s struggles with a massive power vacuum being created, considering how much influence Falcone had at every level of Gotham’s underworld, but also its corrupt institutions. <\/p>\n

Likewise, the ending of The Batman specifically saw Colin Farrell\u2019s Penguin poised to rise<\/a>, an arc that has since been fulfilled in Penguin’s 2024 spin-off series.<\/p>\n

The Penguin series has very much bridged the gap, with Oz Cob taking full control of Falcone\u2019s empire and beyond. Now, The Batman – Part II is positioned to see Pattinson’s Dark Knight dealing with the consequences of Falcone’s fall and the resulting shake-up in Gotham’s dark status quo Bruce knew would occur (just as he claimed during The Batman’s final scenes).<\/p>\n

Gotham\u2019s Flooded Aftermath<\/p>\n

\"The
\n The Gotham flood at the end of The Batman<\/p>\n

The Batman’s citywide flood caused by Riddler and his followers was as symbolic as it was destructive, with Gotham literally and figuratively drowned by its own corruption. <\/p>\n

The result is that streets are now in chaos with citizens being displaced, while crime is running rampant (The Penguin has proved as much). With The Batman \u2013 Part II expected to be set only a few weeks later, the upcoming sequel will most likely explore the city’s ruin and attempts at rebirth in the style of the classic No Man\u2019s Land storyline from the original Batman comics.<\/p>\n

With reformed crime syndicates and likely brand-new villains exploiting the chaos, this version of Gotham could be more dangerous than ever before on the big-screen, making the city and its struggles more vital to Reeves’ saga than has ever been seen before in past Batman movies.<\/p>\n

Catwoman Leaving For Bl\u00fcdhaven<\/p>\n

\"Batman<\/p>\n

The end of 2022’s The Batman also saw Zo\u00eb Kravitz\u2019s Selina Kyle leaving Gotham. Heading for the neighboring city of Bl\u00fcdhaven (the future home of Nightwing in the comics), Selina leaving Batman and putting their relationship on an uncertain cliffhanger does feel like a good sign that she’ll eventually make a return. <\/p>\n

Then again, Catwoman’s absence could also be explored in The Batman – Part II<\/a>, with Bruce Wayne perhaps finding some other potential love-interest from the comics, like reporter Vicki Vale or socialite Silver St. Cloud.<\/p>\n

Batman’s New Crusade – Vengeance Isn’t Enough<\/p>\n

\"Robert
\n Robert Pattinson as Batman looking up and covered in mud in 2022’s The Batman<\/p>\n

By the end of The Batman, Bruce comes to understand his sole focus on vengeance and inspiring fear in the hearts of criminals isn’t enough for Gotham. The innocent need hope and justice just as much as the city’s criminal element requires vengeance and fear. <\/p>\n

As such, Batman rescuing several Gothamites from Riddler’s flood is a defining moment. The Dark Knight has become Gotham’s true protector, having evolved into a symbol of hope as he understands that he must become more than “Vengeance” alone. <\/p>\n

The Batman – Part II will likely give us a more evolved Dark Knight compared to the one he got in the first movie, having gone beyond the confines of his original crusade.\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b<\/p>\n

Teases For Hush, A Major Batman Villain<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

Many fans of the Batman comics likely noticed the name \u201cElliot\u201d in the footage released by Riddler about Thomas Wayne\u2019s scandal and how he tried to cover up a story that would have exposed his wife’s troubled past, a scandal which ended with Carmine Falcone killing reporter Edward Elliot who had refused to take Wayne’s “hush” money.<\/p>\n

It’s widely assumed that this is a nod to the classic Batman villain Tommy Elliot aka Hush<\/a>. It\u2019s a quick reference, but feels too specific to be accidental. Considering The Batman\u2019s focus on legacy and corruption, Hush fits perfectly for a sequel. <\/p>\n

In the comics, Tommy was a childhood friend of Bruce turned enemy, waging a psychological war on Bruce\/Batman as an adult. <\/p>\n

Seeing as how there’s more to the Wayne family\u2019s history that could still be revealed, The Batman \u2013 Part II could easily lean into that paranoia, giving us a villain who knows The Dark Knight as both Bruce and Batman, perhaps in this universe as the son of Edward Elliot seeking revenge.<\/p>\n

Teases For The Court of Owls<\/p>\n

\"Pattinson's
\n Pattinson’s Batman and a member of the Court of Owls.<\/p>\n

Another potential thread for new villains could come from Gotham\u2019s elite with the secret cult of corrupt, untouchable figures manipulating events from the shadows known as The Court of Owls<\/a>. The secret society could easily be revealed following the demise of Falcone, driving Gohtam into greater chaos as they perhaps clash with unwanted figures like Batman, though perhaps Penguin as well.<\/p>\n

A relatively newer addition to Batman’s wide list of rogues, The Court of Owls is a vast network of influential figures, using undead assassins known as Talons to carry out their bidding and shape the course of Gotham’s history as they see fit. It would be amazing to see them as a major new threat in The Batman – Part II.<\/p>\n

“Gotham Loves A Comeback Story”<\/p>\n

\"Barry
\n Barry Keoghan cameo as the Joker in The Batman<\/p>\n

During Riddler\u2019s conversation with Joker in Arkham Asylum, the classic arch-foe played by Barry Keoghan ominously comments, \u201cGotham loves a comeback story.\u201d The implication is that both Joker and Riddler could easily return in future installments to face Batman and wreak havoc in Gotham once more. <\/p>\n

As Gotham struggles to rebuild itself with its own comeback, one could easily see a future chapter of Matt Reeves’ saga where the comeback of key Batman villains threaten to get in the way of the city’s rebirth. <\/p>\n

At any rate, it’s going to be fascinating to see which threads and potential pieces of set-up are ultimately picked up for The Batman – Part II.\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b<\/p>\n

The Batman – Part II releaes in theaters on October 1st, 2027<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"With The Batman \u2013 Part II officially on the way with a 2027 release date, a number of…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":123350,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[146,85,46,397],"class_list":["post-123349","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-movies","tag-entertainment","tag-il","tag-israel","tag-movies"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123349","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=123349"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123349\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/123350"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=123349"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=123349"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=123349"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}