After the massive critical and box office success of Matt Reeves' The Batman, a sequel has been greenlit and Robert Pattinson will reprise his role as the Caped Crusader. Batman and his story have been done countless times, with several actors having portrayed the superhero in film and TV over the years.
However, Pattinson has proven that his version is one of the best, not only because of the intensity he brings to the role, but also the character's flaws, youthful potential, and detective skills. After displaying a nearly three-hour detective story/crime thriller, Reeves and Pattinson have plenty of elements they can offer in the sequel in order to follow up and/or even surpass the first film.
Alfred Should Have A Larger Role
After delivering powerful motion-capture work in Matt Reeves' Planet Of The Apes films, Andy Serkis left a remarkable impression in The Batman as Bruce Wayne's loyal butler, Alfred Pennyworth. Serkis has the right look of a noble gentleman who cares deeply about Bruce's safety and well-being. What sets Serkis' Alfred slightly apart from previous versions of the character is that he and Bruce seem to have a very strained relationship. Even though they love and care for each other like father and son, Alfred and Bruce have disagreements and concerns about the Wayne family legacy, and whether Batman is the right path for Bruce to take.
For The Batman sequel, Alfred could possibly unveil more secrets to Bruce involving the Wayne family, including how Thomas and Martha were murdered (and who from Carmine Falcone's crew pulled the trigger). Alfred could also be given a chance to get more physically involved in the action, especially since he's an ex-soldier with experience in combat.
A Central Villain Who Offers A Physical Challenge
While Batman had his fair share of fights with numerous villains, the Riddler did not physically engage Batman in the recent films. In the Riddler's case, he challenged Batman mentally with the riddles left behind at crime scenes, which was the right approach for a story that resembled a crime thriller. For the sequel, the next story could still have traces of a thriller or borrow from a different genre (such as sci-fi or horror) if Batman fights a nemesis like Mr. Freeze or Scarecrow.
After the conclusion of the first film, Riddler could return with new tricks up his sleeve, along with a new partner (his cellmate, who is revealed to be the Joker). While Riddler and Joker will likely not be pivotal to the central plot of the sequel, they could be shown planning how to escape prison and tackle Batman in a potential third film. In the meantime, a physically strong villain like Freeze will keep Batman occupied.
More Central Female Characters
Zoë Kravitz portrays Selina Kyle/Catwoman as a strong woman and a skilled thief who's against social and economic division. She believes that Gotham is impossible to save from crime and corruption. However, her chemistry with Batman (despite not knowing his real identity) is undeniable, and seeing her make a return in the sequel or the film after that wouldn't be out of the question. For the next story, other female characters have an opportunity to make an appearance.
Poison Ivy is a potential candidate because she is another powerful villain with beauty and mischief who could cause plenty of conflict for The Dark Knight (even put a hallucinatory spell on him). After the Riddler partially turned Gotham into a flooded pool, Poison Ivy may seek to use Gotham as her own ecological habitat, while allowing other villains to join her if they don't try to take advantage of her. Ivy's plot can be a mystical and psychological one that questions the concept of climate change, along with how people use hallucinogens and recreational drugs. Newly elected Gotham mayor Bella Reál could also be more involved in the sequel in terms of interacting with Bruce and his philanthropic work.
The Evolution of Penguin
As Oswald Cobblepot, Colin Farrell delivers a highly charismatic performance in The Batman, despite being unrecognizable in the character's prosthetics and makeup. Oswald is feisty, funny, and dangerous, but also a vulnerable villain because he is not the head crime boss of Gotham yet. As powerful as he is, Oswald clearly wants more power and wasn't too sympathetic towards Falcone (his leader) when he was arrested and killed.
Penguin's upcoming HBO Max series will go into Oswald's personal history, while the sequel could reveal how Oswald transforms into Penguin and engages in more battles against Batman and Catwoman. Penguin could be one of the main antagonists in the next film, providing the feel of a crime drama, as well as working with other villains like Sal Maroni and Fish Mooney. By making Penguin the primary crime boss in the sequel, Batman will have to deal with more criminals and gangsters who want the Caped Crusader's head for a high price.
More Details on James Gordon & Arkham Asylum
Jeffrey Wright plays Lieutenant Gordon with calm patience and persistence, proving an admirable partner for Batman since he's an incorruptible policeman who strives for law and order in Gotham. The sequel will undoubtedly continue to showcase Batman and Gordon as detectives working together on complex cases. Gordon's approach to dirty cops and corruption, as well as his fighting and shooting skills, could also be major factors in the next film's plot.
Along with Gordon, the gothic atmosphere of Arkham Asylum could be further explored, especially the high-level villains who are imprisoned in the facility. The Riddler and Joker could make moves in Arkham by recruiting their army of evil baddies. Psychiatrist Chase Meridian and medical practitioner Leslie Thompkins may also work with Batman and Gordon to take down bad guys with deep psychological issues who intend to escape prison or threaten the public.
The Batman is currently in theaters and available on HBO Max.