Warning: This article contains spoilers forThe Batman.
After months of pandemic-related delays, Matt Reeves’The Batmanhas finally arrived in theaters. Moviegoers all across the world are being bowled over by the movie’s slick visuals, jaw-dropping action sequences, and Robert Pattinson’s nuanced turn as Bruce Wayne. Save for the exhaustive three-hour runtime,The Batmanhas been praised for just about everything. But viewers who sat through the end credits hoping for a sequel setup or a fun callback – or, at the very least, just something that could be described as a post-credits scene – were bitterly disappointed.
After sitting through the entire end credits sequence of a three-hour movie with multiple visual effects departments, fans are treated to the word “GOODBYE” typed on-screen in the style ofthe Riddler’s digital puzzles. Being told “goodbye” after watching hundreds of names scroll across the screen (particularly at the tail end of a tiresome midnight screening) was a huge let-down – especially sinceThe Batmanalready had the perfect post-credits scene and squandered it by stitching it into the movie’s pre-credits epilogue.
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In the months leading up toThe Batman’s release, the producers touted it as a standalone story with no connections to a larger universe. And while that is true to a certain extent, Warner Bros. didn’t miss a chance to tease franchise expansion.The Batmanis unconcerned with fitting into the wider DCEU, but big chunks of the movie are dedicated to setting up its own cinematic universe inside that one. There’sa Penguin streaming series on the way, a Gotham P.D. streaming series on the way, and two sequels in development.
The Joker Scene Is Tailor-Made For The Post-Credits Tease
There’s a crucial scene toward the end ofThe Batmanthat sets up a major plotline for the future. The Riddler is lamenting the failure of his plan from his cell in Arkham Asylum when he’s greeted by an inmate in the cell next to his, played byEternals’ Barry Keoghan. While he’s credited as “Unseen Arkham Prisoner,” Keoghan’s psychotic grin and delirious laugh would suggest that he’s an imprisoned Joker. The last thing that the DCEU needs right now is another Joker, but Keoghan is a fantastic actor and it’ll be interesting to see how Reeves integrates a new Clown Prince of Crime intohis refreshingly grounded Gotham City.
This scene is tailor-made to be a post-credits teaser. It wouldn’t be surprising if it was originally conceived as a post-credits scene, because its air of mystery and promise for the future have real post-credit vibes. The scene feels out of place edited into the main bulk of the movie, because it’s sandwiched into the closing wrap-up. While Gotham is still reeling from the flood and Batman is resolvinghis romantic feelings for Catwoman, a brief jaunt to Arkham to introduce the trilogy’s big bad comes off as jarring and disjointed. The Joker introduction would’ve been much more effective if Reeves held it off until after the end credits.
The Joker’s distinctively unsettling laughter, pulled off beautifully by Keoghan, could’ve echoed into the black screen and left the audience with a spine-chilling buzz as they left the theater. Instead, audiences holding in their pee while they wait to see what the post-credits stinger has in store are greeted with an obnoxious “GOODBYE.” Post-credits scenes might not be considered a component of pure cinema by Martin Scorsese, but superhero fans have come to expect a tantalizing teaser after the end credits.
What Does Reeves’ Batman Trilogy Have In Store For The Joker?
Although he madeThe Batmanas a standalone piece, Reeves has plans for two sequels to round out a trilogy. The introduction of this universe’s Joker is so brief that it’s not clear where Reeves intends to go with this character in the future. The main thing about Keoghan’s cameo appearance is that it confirms thatThe Batmantakes place in a separate timeline to Joaquin Phoenix’sJokermovie (which makes sense, sincePhoenix’s ‘80s-era Jokerwould be an octogenarian by now) and the other Joker-centric DCEU movies. This leaves Reeves with a blank slate for the green-haired lunatic’s on-screen dynamic with Pattinson’s Batman.
When the Joker greets the Riddler in Arkham toward the end ofThe Batman(but not right at the end, like he should’ve done), he promises to be his “friend.” This could be setting up a DCEU version of the Injustice League with the Riddler, the Penguin, and possibly other villains like Deathstroke, Poison Ivy, and Mr. Freeze. Keoghan’s Joker could recruit the Riddler and a bunch of other imprisoned supervillains to team up, break out of Arkham, and terrorize Gotham in one ofthe upcoming sequels. Whatever Reeves has planned for the Joker, based on Keoghan’s brief but unforgettable debut in the role, the actor will surely do a fine job with it.
The Batmanis in theaters now.
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