The Batman - Part Ii: Which Villain Will Reign in Gotham's Chaos?
The Batman - Part II: A Trio of Potential Villains, But Only One Will Rise
Get ready, Batman fans! The Batman - Part II is on its way (2026 release!), and while the 2023 Hollywood strikes caused some delays, the hype remains. We still don't know much about the plot, however one thing remains clear. The sequel is going to feature multiple villains; those returning faces and those newer baddies waiting in the wings! And this particular sequel will probably involve a whole host of potential choices; some might already be familiar while others await their first grand reveal!
However, only one of those three seriously exciting options really has a realistic chance: we are about to analyze all three possible villain options that the audience might want. Which bad guy reigns supreme? We need to break down exactly why that's so.
Three Strong Contenders: Killer Croc, Mr. Freeze, and Black Mask
The flooding of Gotham in the first Batman movie sets a scene perfectly fitting those villains deeply associated with the water – namely Killer Croc and Mr. Freeze! Both could thrive amid the chaos. Killer Croc could use the flood to hunt and become a serious threat for our favorite Batman; setting this up into another one of those excellent detective storylines we expect. Alternatively, Mr. Freeze could use those flooded parts for his next twisted scheme, turning Gotham into an icy hell and taking our heroic Batman out of his comfort zone.
Then, there’s the HBO Max Penguin series; a key component directly impacting The Batman - Part II itself. That gangster war might be what brings forth Black Mask, the major crime boss, showing another aspect; adding other possible antagonists.
Why Black Mask Is the Most Likely Choice for The Batman - Part II
So who is the actual most realistic threat from this selection? Director Matt Reeves discussed exactly just what kinds of characters could appear in his vision of Gotham’s crime lords, addressing the types of villains that could appear in a discussion with SFX Magazine (via Comic Book Movie): "We might push to the edge of fantastical, but we would never go into full fantastical. It's meant to feel quite grounded." That disqualifies Killer Croc and Mr. Freeze. Black Mask's far more grounded approach—a human villain rising amid Gotham’s political instability—makes him the best option and the actual most likely candidate to appear.
Conclusion: The Stage is Set for Black Mask’s Rise to Power
The Batman - Part II is coming. Even though delays involved; and only one truly plausible villain has now become clearer. While Killer Croc and Mr. Freeze might’ve worked under this specific, somewhat unrealistic setting involving a flooding Gotham. Their overly “fantastical” nature—that intense contrast with Reeves’s more realistic take on Gotham—makes those choices largely improbable. This kind of more detailed speculation and the reasons presented help fans develop and sharpen their predictions and their expectations.
Black Mask's more realistic approach makes him the perfect fit! His emergence as the new kingpin perfectly reflects the current state of that wonderfully troubled Gotham from that first Batman movie, thus highlighting the ongoing struggles between law enforcement and the criminals involved. It's a plausible threat. That impending gang war and resulting vacuum set by the Penguin series and the subsequent rising of Black Mask fits Reeves’s style perfectly. Get ready for this exciting sequel.
