There are ample reasons why Matt Reeves’ superhero flick with its noir edges and pensive tones instantly bewitched fans. From Robert Pattinson’s brooding Caped Crusader against the tragic backdrop of Gotham City and a rich, compelling storyline that highlights Batman’s detective side to the laudable production, The Batman was both a cinematic and commercial success.
But where Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne checked all the boxes and more, Barry Keoghan’s Joker seems to have fallen short. Or at least that’s what some moviegoers think.
How Barry Keoghan’s Joker in The Batman Differs From Past Versions
Unlike previous versions of the classic villain, Barry Keoghan’s Clown Prince of Crime in Matt Reeves’ The Batman has a congenital condition owing to which he cannot stop smiling. Not only that, but the Joker also has a more distinct facial scarring, which only accentuates Keoghan’s malformed look. But this was a deliberate addition on Matt Reeves’ part (via ScreenRant).
“‘What if this is something that he’s been touched by from birth and that he has a congenital disease that refuses to let him stop smiling? And he’s had this very dark reaction to it, and he’s had to spend a life of people looking at him in a certain way and he knows how to get into your head.’”
Although his maniacal grin may have been elemental in adding to the character’s menacing personality, Keoghan’s came off as perhaps more deformed than deranged. In a recent post on X, a user even went so far as to deem it “the worst live-action Joker design” with many others expressing their distaste toward Joker’s outward appearance in the 2022 film, demanding a significant change in the second installment.
Hell yeah. It’s the worst live action Joker design
— sebanatic the 5000th (@sebanatic5000) June 9, 2024
Yes. This is too disfigured
— Daniel Rapcliffe (@PandaSayzWhat) June 9, 2024
Yes, The Joker isn’t a god damn Zombie
— B⓪ (@ItsBoTime88) June 9, 2024
This design is awful
— NickCWX (@NickMNWX) June 9, 2024
Sure, the director’s conscious decision to make Joker’s face with more scars and skin grafts lent him that horrendous air of malice that the villainous character evokes. But Keoghan’s Joker seems to be “too disfigured” for some to appreciate, fleeting as the actor’s part may have been in the movie.
Perhaps it’s time for Reeves to incorporate some changes in Joker’s look in The Batman Part II if fans’ reactions are anything to go by.
Will Barry Keoghan Reprise His Role As Joker in The Batman 2?
While no official announcements have surfaced yet, in a recent interview with Vanity Fair, the Saltburn star seems to have obliquely confirmed his return in the forthcoming Reeves-helmed Batman sequel. When mentioned how Keoghan, 31, would be “playing the Joker in DC’s The Batman 2,” the Irish actor didn’t deny the claim, which could only allude to his potential reprisal.
Back in December 2023, the Dunkirk star also hinted at his comeback in a conversation with E Talk, claiming that “it would be exciting,” though he couldn’t say much about it.
“I can’t really say anything about that my man. But, um, you know, it would be exciting, wouldn’t it? To see the Joker come to life again […] My smile says it all, you know what I mean?”
Meanwhile, Robert Pattinson’s return as the despondent yet intimidating Bruce Wayne has already been confirmed in The Batman 2, but more cast and plot-related information is yet to be divulged about the upcoming DC feature.
While the original release date for the film had been October 3, 2025, there’s been a pushback in filming and changes in the schedule.
The Batman Part II will premiere on October 2, 2026.
