New Report Suggests Surprise Villain for The Batman Part 2

Matt Reeves’ upcoming sequel, The Batman Part 2, is still over a year away, but recent reports hint at some intriguing villainous additions. It seems Gotham City might be facing more than one threat in this next chapter.

An unconfirmed report suggests that Sebastian Stan will take on the role of the notorious serial killer Victor Zsasz, while Brian Tyree Henry is rumored to portray Harvey Dent. It’s still uncertain whether Henry’s character will transform into the infamous Two-Face in this sequel to 2022’s The Batman. Interestingly, Henry is one of three actors linked to the Dent character; Scarlett Johansson is reportedly cast as Gilda Dent, Harvey’s wife, and Charles Dance is set to play Christopher Dent, Harvey’s father.

Victor Zsasz, also known as Mister Zsasz, has been a long-standing adversary of Batman in the DC comics universe. This sadistic serial killer is infamous for marking his skin with a tally for each victim he claims. He first appeared in Batman: Shadow of the Bat #1 in 1992 and has made his way into various video games, including Batman: Arkham Asylum and Batman: Arkham City. Zsasz has been depicted in live-action several times, notably in the TV series Gotham, where he was played by Anthony Carrigan, as well as in Birds of Prey by Chris Messina and Batman Begins by Tim Booth.

Harvey Dent is a well-known figure among Batman enthusiasts, having been featured in several live-action films, including Tim Burton’s 1989 Batman, where he was portrayed by Billy Dee Williams, Joel Schumacher’s Batman Forever with Tommy Lee Jones, and The Dark Knight, played by Aaron Eckhart. However, Dent’s alter ego, Two-Face, only appeared in two of those adaptations.

This raises the question of how Reeves’ statement about the antagonist of The Batman Part 2 being “never really done in a movie before” fits into the mix. The effectiveness of that claim hinges on the interpretation of “really.” Zsasz’s portrayals in Birds of Prey and Batman Begins don’t fully capture his comic book essence as a serial killer, and it’s unclear if Harvey Dent will indeed become the scarred villain. There’s also the possibility that neither Zsasz nor Dent will be the primary antagonist—could it be the Joker instead? (Though that seems unlikely.)

Reeves has expressed a desire to focus on Bruce Wayne in this sequel. He mentioned that the villain will delve into Wayne’s past and personal life, presenting a significant threat. “Choosing the right villain that digs into his past and life was crucial to our discussions, and while I won’t reveal the outcome, I’m incredibly excited about it,” Reeves shared last year.

The Batman Part 2 is set to hit theaters on October 1, 2027. Robert Pattinson will reprise his role as Bruce Wayne/Batman, joined by Colin Farrell as Oz Cobb/Penguin, Jeffrey Wright as Commissioner Gordon, and Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth.

How does a classic serial killer make his mark in the chaotic landscape of Gotham City?