It has already been announced that The Batman (2022) is going to get a sequel. If you’re anything like me, you loved the new reboot and are eager to see what comes next. Perhaps you too have been looking around for any scrap of info you can find around the internet. Maybe you too have delved into the world of Batman comics and games to begin speculating your own ideas.
The following are my own ideas, in outline form, mostly based on the comics, for what I think should/ought to happen in the coming The Batman 2. If I’m right at all, it’s accidently on-purpose; if Matt Reeves wants any help developing the sequel and the series, I’m fully available and on board. (Hint hint, wink wink)
This post will have some spoilers for The Batman movie, the Arkham videogame series, and several comics which focus on early career Batman, Robin, and Batgirl. You’ve been warned.
My guesses about the sequel hinge on roughly 4 questions:
- Who is the villain?
- Who is the love interest?
- Are we expanding the Bat Family?
- How does Batman grow from the story?
Along the way, there will be some scenes that don’t necessarily have to do with the questions, but I think will be important for the sake of prediction.
Act 1, Scene 1:
The movie opens on a still-rebuilding Gotham– a city which has been flooded and recently drained. Men and women are still working to clean muddy streets and construct the new flood walls– all thanks of Bruce Wayne’s philanthropy. Cut to a news report with Vicky Vale and Jack Ryder discussing the improvements, Wayne’s more recent appearances– including an upcoming circus fundraiser (instead of his previous withdrawn life). The conversation turns to Batman (possibly discussing events in the tv shows that are supposed to be a part of this Batman’s cinematic universe on Max). Following the the comics, Batman is moving from being an urban legend to a controversial figure– a vigilante who is stepping in outside of the law.
During the news story, cut to Alfred preparing Bruce coffee. Bruce comes in with a tray of tea. Alfred has a limp from his injury in the last film; Bruce helps him and says, “You should sit down. I told you I can do it.”
“Of course you can, sir,” Alfred says with pride– especially as Bruce begins to pour from the teapot. “Thank you, Master Bruce.”
Bruce takes his coffee. They both drink as they watch the newscast.
“How is it?”
“I’d say they don’t know quite what to do with you, yet. But I think you have an admirer in Ms. Vale.”
“I meant the tea.” Bruce is almost bashful. He wants the tea to be good.
“Thankfully, Master Bruce,” Alfred says as he places the cup down, “you have other skills.”
Bruce sips his coffee, a smirk on his face. “I’ll get better at it.”
Alfred alludes to Bruce’s uncle, Phillip Arkham (adapting the character from the New 52), would have liked to have been consulted before such a generous donation was to be made from the Wayne Foundation. He wants to meet with Bruce. Bruce is not excited by this.
(This is obviously a VERY rough sketch, but I would like to see more scenes with Serkis as Alfred and to build on the relationship between these two. Without them, there could be no Bat Family; we need a sense that Bruce and Alfred have forgiven each other for the words said during the last film and that Bruce does have a side which could not only care for his father figure, but possibly for another.)
Act 1, Scene 2:
An office in the GCPD (possibly one which has been explored in the Gotham PD show, if it ever happens). Dent and Gordon sit across from each other. Dent has been working through the Internal Affairs cases; a lot of crooked cops have been put on leave. He talks about how hard it is to get them fired. Gordon worries about how much they’re crippling the department from all those on leave. Dent is running for DA and has a lot to prove. He congratulates Gordon on his promotion to Captain– but wonders if his high case closure has anything to do with Gordon helping the vigilante known as the Batman. Gordon feigns ignorance (“I don’t really–“), but Dent pushes. “DA made my job to take down the mob and clean house. Either would be impossible– but both? [DA] assigned the Internal Affairs cases to me to make me very unpopular– not many cops want to vote or back a candidate that fired his buddy– but, God, do we need it. I mean, have you seen how many of these guys have “gifts” from Falcone and other big mob families? I know whatever headway we’ve made is only because of you and the Bat. Come on. I want to meet him.”
This takes Gordon by surprise. He thinks about it before saying, “If I could arrange it… I would have to ask him.”
“Of course. But you make sure he knows that it would be good for a vigilante to have a DA on his side. A DA who wants the same thing as him.”
A knock on the door. An officer pokes their head in. “Captain? We have another one.”
(It is important to me that Harvey Dent is introduced now and not later– and that we see him as more than just a Two-Face-to-be. I want him to be a friend who we dread losing by the time he does change to become a villain. This is also a chance to see how the last movie and the events of the Gotham PD show effect the force in this movie.)
Act 1, Scene 3:
The Bat Signal. Gordon waits, smoking.
“Those are bad for you,” Batman tells him, making Gordon jump a little. Gordon begins to share the details and photos of the missing girls and women. The M.O. is not quite the same every time, but they are always found in a blue dress, white apron, white stockings, black shoes, and black headband. Each has a phrase written in blood next to them. “All in the Golden Afternoon,” and other lines of the novel. “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland?”
Gordon fills in Batman on other matters of the case. Eventually, Batman says, “I’ll look into it. Anything I need to know about the mob families?”
Gordon uses the opportunity to talk about the mob, perhaps alluding to events under investigation in Gotham PD. (I’m really expecting that show to exist and do some heavy lifting.) Cobblepot is slippery– nothing can be traced to him. (This is also where the Arkham Asylum show’s escapees might get a mention, if that show happens.) Sionis (or some other mob family) appears to be gaining power in the vaccuum– but, again, not much can be pinned on him.
Before Batman leaves, Gordon asks, somewhat clumsily, if he wants to meet Dent– that if Dent became a DA, he could help them clean up the city. Batman asks Gordon if he believes in Harvey Dent (a nod to the Dark Knight). Gordon says that he believes in what Dent wants to do as much as he believes in what Batman wants to do.
(While I want to allude to other moving pieces, I want the main villain to continue the dark, gritty detective vibe from the last movie. I think Mad Hatter as a serial killer would make for a solid choice with this– especially as I would see it as an opportunity to tie in Vicky Vale and Barbara Gordon into the plot. While anyone could really take over the mob, Sionis/Black Mask makes for a good character reference, even though it might be awkard with another Black Mask in the Harley Quinn movie. Penguin might even have taken over a significant portion of the mob at this point– but I want him to be nearly untouchable, more slippery than even last time.)
Act 1, Scene 4:
Bruce Wayne arrives at the fundraiser circus he has decided to pay for. All proceeds are supposed to continue to pay for repairs for Gotham and help those in need; Bruce says as much when cornered by Vicki Vale. “But, Mr. Wayne, why now?”
“I think the events of the past year really showed me how much Gotham needs people, ordinary people to step up.”
“Like the Batman?”
“I meant ordinary people, I don’t think anyone should be dressing up in a costume and taking the law into their own hands. Thank you.”
He cuts her off and goes inside. He spots Gordon gettings some popcorn with a girl. She is about 15-16. “Detective Gordon.”
“Uh, it’s Captain Gordon, now. Mr. Wayne.”
“And this is?” Bruce asks, referring to the girl getting the popcorn.
“Oh, this my daughter, Barbara.” She waves, not paying much attention to him.
“Dad, come on. Let’s go. I don’t want to miss it.”
Gordon is talking to himself as much as to Bruce. “It’s her birthday. Thing she wants more than anything is to spend time with me. Sorry.”
“No, no– not at all. No one could tell you more than me how valuable time with your parents is.”
Gordon nods, not sure of what to say. Bruce goes to his seat at the front of the show.
The circus is a moment of levity in a dark world. The Flying Graysons come out and begin their act: a death defying set . As the mother swings across without a safety net below, she lets go and spins in the air. The father swings in to catch her, right hand outstretched. BANG. He is shot. His catches his wife as he clutches his chest with his left, red spilling over his fingers. They plummet to their death. Bruce is having flashes of his own pain. A man dressed like the Riddler vigilantes is quickly caught by the police and dragged out screaming, “I am Vengeance! I am Vengeance!” All eyes pan to the youngest Grayson: Dick. The young man, roughly 16-17, is still on the ladder from his last swing. He slides down the pole next to the ladder and sits near his parents in a way all too familiar to Bruce. People are being ushered out of the circus tent.
Bruce comes over Dick, who a cop is trying to console/remove from the scene. Dick is struggling to stay with his parents. Dick looks up at Bruce.
A slight cut to the limo. Alfred is driving. Bruce is riding in the back with Dick. Dick stares out the window. Bruce switches between staring out the window and and at Dick. It is an uncomfortable silence.
The gate of Wayne Manor opens. Alfred says, “We’re still renovating it. We’ve only lived here a few weeks. Plenty of room for you, though.”
“For as long as you want.” Bruce adds, quietly.
Dick sniffles. “Thanks.”
Thank you for reading!
This is my rough take on what I would do with Act I of The Batman. Like I said at the beginning, I had a few guiding questions for what I wanted to do with the story. I think the Mad Hatter makes for a great villain who draws on the weird, but who is still grounded enough to be a realistic and terrifying serial killer. I’ve introduced Vicki Vale, one of the top three love interests for Bruce, in my opinion. The Batfamily is starting to expand with the addition of Dick and the introduction of Barbara. It’s still early to show how Bruce/Batman will grow, but I think this Act I lays the groundwork for the growth that comes with being a surrogate father.
Make sure to follow to see how the story progresses!
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