There’s still an air of mystery around The Batman, set to be the latest and perhaps darkest imagining of the Dark Knight yet. But if there is one thing fans can be sure of is that the first film in director Matt Reeves’ supposed series will be packed to the brim with familiar villainous faces. From the few images and teasers, it’s clear to fans that The Penguin (Colin Farrell), Selina Kyle’s Catwoman (Zoe Kravitz), and a version of The Riddler (Paul Dano) inspired by the Zodiac Killer will be making appearances alongside Bruce Wayne, played by Robert Pattinson. There are plenty more criminals and capers to fill out other potential films, but a certain comedic character is missing — the Joker.

The Joker has always been a favorite among fans of Batman, whether in the original comics or the numerous iterations of the character across film and television. With a Bruce Wayne that is reported to be "radically different" than previous versions, it might be useful for Reeves to think outside of the box with his casting for someone like The Joker. Here are a few actors that could step into the shoes of Gotham’s favorite jester.

RELATED: Is The Batman Going To Waste The Penguin?

LaKeith Stanfield

lakeith stanfield judas and black messiah

It’s clear that LeKeith Stanfield has the comedy chops needed to play the Joker. The actor rumored to be in Disney’s film adaptation of The Haunted Mansion has been a main cast member of Atlanta for the past two seasons, and his talents refuse to stop there. Stanfield has been every character under the sun — an Oscar-nominated turn in a biopic, a lead in a romantic drama, a breakout role in a socially conscious comedy, and a detective in a mystery full of twists and turns. It would be fun to see him run the full gauntlet by starring in a film based on a comic book character, and The Batman may be the perfect opportunity for it. The gritty and realistic world that Matt Reeves has built would be an interesting place for LaKeith to play around in.

Sam Rockwell

sam rockwell as justin hammer in iron man 2

Rockwell already has an audition for the Clown Prince of Crime under his belt for Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy. The actor has been giving iconic and layered performances for decades — from Seven Psychopaths and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (which he won an Oscar for), to Iron Man 2 as a hilarious villain. Rockwell would be an interesting Joker due to the age gap between him and Robert Pattinson. It could be fascinating for the iconic character to be more seasoned in crime than his adversary.

Aubrey Plaza

aubrey plaza criminal minds

Who says The Joker has to be a man? It would be great if the character was a woman, especially if Reeves is going for a completely new retelling. There’s no better gal for the part than Plaza, who has proved herself more than capable of a dark role with numerous indie projects and a stint on Criminal Minds. Her role as Lenny Busker on FX's Legion cemented her comic book villain bona fides. It’s also obvious her performance as April Ludgate in Parks and Recreation makes her a contender as well. The character had the perfect mix of comic and dread that would translate well to the Joker’s antics and bleak sense of humor.

Riz Ahmed

riz ahmed sound of metal outside

Riz Ahmed is no stranger to villains. He portrayed Carlton Drake (better known as Riot) in the first Venom film. His career has taken him to many places, like the Star Wars universe and an acclaimed HBO miniseries. Riz stood out as former Imperial pilot Bodhi Rook in Rogue One and earned immense praise for his leading roles in The Night Of and Sound of Metal. The Oscar-nominated and Emmy-winning actor also brings an interesting element to the table that others on this list don’t— there’s only a three-year age difference between Ahmed and Pattinson, which could create an intriguing dynamic between The Joker and Batman, especially when both characters could be seen as foils to the other.

Kieran Culkin

kieran culkin succession

He’s known better as the younger brother to Home Alone star Macaulay Culkin, but Kieran Culkin has been making a name for himself with small roles in film and television -- most notably as best friend Wallace Wells in Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World. Recently, Culkin has starred as the youngest son of the Roy family, Roman, on HBO's hit series Succession for three seasons. Roman Roy (a character that has been nominated for an Emmy due to Culkin's outstanding performance) is a brash and greedy man who wants power and navigates the world with his impeccable comedic timing and quick insults. Having Kieran darken the behavior he's already used on Succession for The Joker wouldn't be that hard and could make for a memorable, more comedy-driven take on the villain.

The Batman is set to be released in theaters on March 4, 2022.

MORE:The Batman: Paul Dano Proved He’s A Perfect Villain In This Intense Movie