THE BATMAN: 6 Heroes And Villains Who Absolutely Should NOT Appear (If And When It Happens)

Regardless of whether it's a standalone adventure or set in the DC Extended Universe with Ben Affleck wearing the cape and cowl, when The Batman does happen, these characters should not be included...

By JoshWilding - Sep 06, 2017 08:09 AM EST

Filed Under: Batman

As of right now, we still don't know what form The Batman is going to take. War for the Planet of the Apes director Matt Reeves is going to take the helm but we have no idea if it's going to be a standalone movie or if it will be set in the DC Extended Universe. Oh, and don't even get us started on whether or not Ben Affleck will suit up as the Dark Knight because we're still getting conflicting reports on that!

However, The Batman is going to happen at some point and regardless of whether or not it features Deathstroke, there are a variety of characters who we most definitely DON'T want to see in the movie.

With that in mind, what you'll find below is an in-depth look at the six heroes and villains from the DC Universe who are closely tied to the Caped Crusader but should not factor into this long delayed released in any fashion. That may seem harsh but there are some characters who have no place here no matter how beloved or integral they are to Batman's world. There may be some controversy...

6. Catwoman

Somewhere along the line, it apparently became an unwritten rule that all superhero movies need to feature a love interest. Chances are that will also apply to The Batman, but with any luck, it won’t be Selina Kyle who catches Bruce’s eye. The character has appeared in two movies now, and honestly, it’s hard to imagine what else she could bring to the table either as a love interest or someone who fights alongside the Caped Crusader in battle. It’s all been covered in her previous big screen appearances, and it would be much better for Reeves to go down a different route.

Yes, it would be nice to see a more comic book accurate Catwoman in this movie, but one of the things that made Deathstroke as the choice of villain so exciting (if that's still going to be the case) is that it’s something no one expected and completely different to what we’ve seen in the past. A strong female character in The Batman is essential, but why not delve deeper into the likes of Renee Montoya, Kate Kane or Stephanie Brown? There’s definitely room for Catwoman in this potentially standalone feature and the DC Extended Universe, but before going down that route, there are plenty of other exciting options available.

One of the most exciting things about the upcoming Justice League movie is seeing how Bruce Wayne’s relationships with characters like Aquaman, the Flash, and Wonder Woman develop. As the apparent leader of the superhero team, he’ll no doubt be able to call on them all for help down the line, but do we really want to see Cyborg or Superman swooping into Gotham City to help the Dark Knight take down Deathstroke or whichever villain Reeves replaces him with? It’s essential this solo movie for the Caped Crusader keeps the focus on Batman, especially as the best parts of Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice all took place in his hometown.

While I wouldn’t necessarily be against one member of the team showing up in an after-credits scene to set up the Justice League sequel or Flashpoint, it would be a massive mistake for The Batman to feature the sort of dream sequences and time travelling shenanigans that the Zack Snyder-helmed release mentioned above did. Instead, the focus needs to remain squarely on the Caped Crusader and his supporting cast as Reeves delves deep into his world and tells a standalone story which can sit alongside the likes of The Dark Knight and 1989’s Batman.

Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn was perhaps Suicide Squad‘s most popular character, hence why a number of spinoffs featuring the Harlequin of Hate are now in the works. Those are all well and good, but it’s more than a little concerning to think that Warner Bros. will take her popularity as a sign that she should now be shoved down the throats of moviegoers over the next few years.

It’s something which has been happening in the comic books for a while, and a cameo here would no doubt end up feeling forced, ultimately distracting from the main story. Reshoots made it so that Harley Quinn and the Joker are still an item, and while it would be fun to see the Clown Prince of Crime show up in The Batman, bringing that baggage along in an attempt to tie into one of her many upcoming appearances would be not only a mistake, but the exact sort of forced world-building which plagued movies like Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice and Iron Man 2.

Back Next

3. Two-Face

District Attorney Harvey Dent is an interesting character, but his origin story is not one which needs to be tackled again here. There’s no denying that Two-Face is one of the Caped Crusader’s best and most iconic villains, but it would be much better for Harvey to show up in his villainous persona for a cameo rather than retreading old ground. Delving into the relationship between Batman, Jim Gordon and Harvey Dent is something which probably appeals to Matt Reeves as it's such a fascinating dynamic, but it’s hard to imagine it adding an awful lot to the upcoming release.

After all, if Batman: The Telltale Series has proved anything, it’s that even the freshest take on Harvey’s origin is really just the same old thing we’ve seen a million times before. Throw in the fact that Christopher Nolan did such an amazing job with the character in The Dark Knight, and he’s better off left on the shelf here. There are actually others who could take his place if Reeves really wants to delve into the connection between a vigilante, the police commissioner and the DA, but Two-Face’s time will definitely be better spent behind bars in Arkham Asylum than in an office.

Back Next

2. Oracale

For those of you unfamiliar with the comic books, Oracle is the moniker taken on by Barbara Gordon after she was gunned down by the Joker. Left wheelchair bound by his attack, she became the Caped Crusader’s eyes and ears in Gotham City, providing him with intel and assistance from her Watchtower. She’s a cool character, but this isn’t someone who’s remotely necessary to The Batman, and it would be a much smarter move by Reeves to keep the focus on the relationship the hero has with Alfred while he’s out in the field, as that was a lot of fun in Batman v Superman.

Picking up with Barbara as Oracle here would also be something of a waste, especially as there are better uses for the character. Whether she just shows up as the daughter of Commissioner Jim Gordon who has an unusually keen interest in Batman’s vigilantism or as Batgirl (which would be very cool to see), there are a lot of stories which could be told with the hero before going down the Oracle route. Of course, with Joss Whedon working on a Batgirl movie - which could be standalone or set in the DC Extended Universe - it's hard to say which - or how many - versions we'll see on the big screen now!

Back Next

1. Robin

While I would love The Batman to revolve around the return of Jason Todd as the Red Hood, it doesn’t appear as if that’s the plan as of right now. After all, Deathstroke never played a role in the comic book version of that story and there’s been absolutely no mention of Jared Leto’s Joker showing up here (which would be a necessity). If the storyline is somehow adapted, I could live with a flashback featuring Robin, but one thing this movie shouldn’t do is introduce us to a new version of Batman’s sidekick.

Whether it’s Carrie Kelley or Tim Drake, Robin doesn’t need to show up. Sure, it would be nice to get some insight into the Robin costume Batman has on display in the Batcave but that would be best achieved by having someone like Nightwing appear. A former Robin, Dick Grayson could now be estranged from the Dark Knight due to what happened to Jason, and even just a simple conversation between these two could help set the stage for the Red Hood to appear down the line. Ultimately, though, it may be best for Batman to have no help as there’s something quite a bit more exciting about him heading into battle with no backup.

Do you agree that these characters shouldn't appear in The Batman? Are there any other heroes and villains you think should be left on the shelf? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

Back

REACHER Star Alan Ritchson Continues To Let It Be Known That He Wants To Play BATMAN In James Gunn's DCU

Recommended For You:

Jake Gyllenhaal Recalls Christopher Nolan Calling Him To Reveal He'd Missed Out On BATMAN BEGINS Role

DISCLAIMER: ComicBookMovie.com is protected under the DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act) and... [MORE]

ComicBookMovie.com, and/or the user who contributed this post, may earn commissions or revenue through clicks or purchases made through any third-party links contained within the content above.

Do you have what it takes to write for us?

Want to contribute?

118 Comments

1 2 3

noahthegrand - 9/6/2017, 8:05 AM

I really want a under the red hood inspired movie

Kman - 9/6/2017, 8:13 AM

@noahthegrand - the one issue with that is... everybody will know the twist

ODanil - 9/6/2017, 8:22 AM

@Kman - twist the twist. red hood is actually BW and Batman is actually JT

Kman - 9/6/2017, 8:06 AM

I'd like something like the mutants from The Dark Knight Returns animated film... That fight scene in the mud pit could be totally badass in live action, especially for this already older Batman.

barbaraminerva - 9/6/2017, 8:06 AM

smh... why NOT have Two Face as a primary villain? You could adapt Eye of the Beholder and play it out like flashbacks to Batman's first ally, or something. Like yeah, you'd get another take on him, but it's hardly saturation - we've had a bajillion joker takes already too and HE'S getting a fricking solo.

tbh, the kind of pathos invoked with that story could only really be rivaled by a really good take on Freeze or a UtRH adaptation.

smlaude - 9/6/2017, 8:55 AM

@barbaraminerva - imagine Justin Theorux from Leftovers as Harvey Dent.

barbaraminerva - 9/6/2017, 10:45 AM

@smlaude - Not bad! Dreamcast for me would be Oscar Isaac or maybe Raoul Esparza.

IronGenesis - 9/6/2017, 8:10 AM

"we have no idea if it's going to be a standalone movie or if it will be set in the DC Extended Universe."
i blame our education system for people still not being able to read English

1 2 3

Related Headlines

Joker

JOKER: FOLIE A DEUX's First Trailer Debuts To Over 167 Million Views In Its First 24 Hours

MarkJulian

3 days ago

Batman (Animated)

Viral BATMAN BEYOND Animated Teaser Has Fans Wondering Why WB Hasn't Moved Forward With A Similar Concept

MarkJulian

4 days ago

Joker

JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX Director Todd Phillips On Casting Lady Gaga As Harley Quinn & Sequel's Musical Elements

MarkCassidy

5 days ago

Related Headlines

Joker

JOKER: FOLIE A DEUX's First Trailer Debuts To Over 167 Million Views In Its First 24 Hours

MarkJulian

3 days ago

Batman (Animated)

Viral BATMAN BEYOND Animated Teaser Has Fans Wondering Why WB Hasn't Moved Forward With A Similar Concept

MarkJulian

4 days ago

Joker

JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX Director Todd Phillips On Casting Lady Gaga As Harley Quinn & Sequel's Musical Elements

MarkCassidy

5 days ago

Joker

JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX - Arthur Fleck Isn't Alone Anymore... In First Trailer For Joaquin Phoenix's DC Sequel

RohanPatel

6 days ago

Joker

JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX: First Teaser Features The Return Of Joaquin Phoenix As Arthur Fleck

MarkCassidy

6 days ago

The Dark Knight

Marvel Comics

Legendary X-MEN Writer Chris Claremont Returns With Another Untold Adventure In WOLVERINE: DEEP CUT

JoshWilding

2 hours ago

Terminator

TERMINATOR: DARK FATE Star Linda Hamilton Reveals Whether She Regrets Starring In The Movie

JoshWilding

2 hours ago

Latest Headlines

Disney

Disney+ Reportedly Has Plans For Always-On Channels Dedicated To Marvel, STAR WARS, And More

JoshWilding

2 hours ago

Marvel Comics

Legendary X-MEN Writer Chris Claremont Returns With Another Untold Adventure In WOLVERINE: DEEP CUT

JoshWilding

2 hours ago

Terminator

TERMINATOR: DARK FATE Star Linda Hamilton Reveals Whether She Regrets Starring In The Movie

JoshWilding

2 hours ago

Into The Spider-Verse

SPIDER-MAN: BEYOND THE SPIDER-VERSE's Release Window May Have Been Revealed By Musician D4VD

JoshWilding

2 hours ago

Sonic the Hedgehog

JOHN WICK Star Keanu Reeves Will Voice Shadow In SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3

MarkCassidy

8 hours ago

The Mandalorian

Fired THE MANDALORIAN Star Gina Carano Says Pedro Pascal Remembers Her As A "Protector" On Set

JoshWilding

10 hours ago

Hot Headlines

118 comments

Speculation Mounts That THUNDERBOLTS* Could End Up Being A DARK AVENGERS Movie

JoshWilding

2 days ago EST

86 comments

Is The SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS Sequel Still Happening? Star Simu Liu Shares Update

JoshWilding

1 day ago EST

69 comments

RUMOR: DC Comics Launching "Absolute Comics" Reboot From Scott Snyder; Compared To Marvel's Ultimate Line

JoshWilding

20 hours ago EST

63 comments

SUPERMAN Star David Corenswet Takes A Break From Shooting To Film Advert - Is This His Clark Kent Look?

MarkCassidy

1 day ago EST

61 comments

More Sci-Fi & Fantasy ►

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3 Adds THE MATRIX And JOHN WICK Star Keanu Reeves As Shadow

More Cartoons & Animated ►

BORDERLANDS Movie Star Ariana Greenblatt Reveals Her Inspirations For Bringing Tiny Tina To Life

More Anime & Manga ►

ABIGAIL First Reviews Land As Movie Earns Fangtastic Early Rotten Tomatoes Score

More Horror ►

Alex Garland's CIVIL WAR Is The #1 Movie In North America- Opens To $25.7M

More Action Movies & TV ►

The Rock Confirms WRESTLEMANIA 41 Plans; Calls Seth Rollins MVP Of This Year's Show Of Shows

More Pro Wrestling ►

REBEL MOON Director Zack Snyder Confirms Six-Hour Director's Cuts; Teases Release Date And Threequel Plans

More Sci-Fi & Fantasy ►

More Cartoons & Animated ►

More Anime & Manga ►

More Horror ►

More Action Movies & TV ►

More Pro Wrestling ►

THE BATMAN: 6 Heroes And Villains Who Absolutely Should NOT Appear (If And When It Happens)

Regardless of whether it's a standalone adventure or set in the DC Extended Universe with Ben Affleck wearing the cape and cowl, when The Batman does happen, these characters should not be included...

6. Catwoman

5. Justice League

4. Harley Quinn

3. Two-Face

2. Oracale

1. Robin

REACHER Star Alan Ritchson Continues To Let It Be Known That He Wants To Play BATMAN In James Gunn's DCU

Jake Gyllenhaal Recalls Christopher Nolan Calling Him To Reveal He'd Missed Out On BATMAN BEGINS Role

JOKER: FOLIE A DEUX's First Trailer Debuts To Over 167 Million Views In Its First 24 Hours

Viral BATMAN BEYOND Animated Teaser Has Fans Wondering Why WB Hasn't Moved Forward With A Similar Concept

JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX Director Todd Phillips On Casting Lady Gaga As Harley Quinn & Sequel's Musical Elements

JOKER: FOLIE A DEUX's First Trailer Debuts To Over 167 Million Views In Its First 24 Hours

Viral BATMAN BEYOND Animated Teaser Has Fans Wondering Why WB Hasn't Moved Forward With A Similar Concept

JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX Director Todd Phillips On Casting Lady Gaga As Harley Quinn & Sequel's Musical Elements

JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX - Arthur Fleck Isn't Alone Anymore... In First Trailer For Joaquin Phoenix's DC Sequel

JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX: First Teaser Features The Return Of Joaquin Phoenix As Arthur Fleck

THE DARK KNIGHT TRILOGY Writer Jonathan Nolans Reveals The Riddler Was Considered (And Why He Didn't Appear)

Popular Headlines

Rebecca Ferguson Was Contacted By Several Former Co-Stars After Publicly Slamming "Idiot" Actor

SUPERMAN Star David Corenswet Takes A Break From Shooting To Film Advert - Is This His Clark Kent Look?

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE: Some Intriguing, Potentially Spoilery Details About Headpool Have Been Revealed

Geena Davis Explains Why She Won't Return As Barbara Maitland For BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE

Layoffs Hit Marvel Studios After Bob Iger Previously Hinted At Reduced Output And Greater Focus On Quality

Disney+ Reportedly Has Plans For Always-On Channels Dedicated To Marvel, STAR WARS, And More

Legendary X-MEN Writer Chris Claremont Returns With Another Untold Adventure In WOLVERINE: DEEP CUT

TERMINATOR: DARK FATE Star Linda Hamilton Reveals Whether She Regrets Starring In The Movie

Disney+ Reportedly Has Plans For Always-On Channels Dedicated To Marvel, STAR WARS, And More

Legendary X-MEN Writer Chris Claremont Returns With Another Untold Adventure In WOLVERINE: DEEP CUT

TERMINATOR: DARK FATE Star Linda Hamilton Reveals Whether She Regrets Starring In The Movie

SPIDER-MAN: BEYOND THE SPIDER-VERSE's Release Window May Have Been Revealed By Musician D4VD

JOHN WICK Star Keanu Reeves Will Voice Shadow In SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3

Fired THE MANDALORIAN Star Gina Carano Says Pedro Pascal Remembers Her As A "Protector" On Set

Hot Headlines

Speculation Mounts That THUNDERBOLTS* Could End Up Being A DARK AVENGERS Movie

Is The SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS Sequel Still Happening? Star Simu Liu Shares Update

RUMOR: DC Comics Launching "Absolute Comics" Reboot From Scott Snyder; Compared To Marvel's Ultimate Line

SUPERMAN Star David Corenswet Takes A Break From Shooting To Film Advert - Is This His Clark Kent Look?

Layoffs Hit Marvel Studios After Bob Iger Previously Hinted At Reduced Output And Greater Focus On Quality

Sci-Fi & Fantasy

REBEL MOON Director Zack Snyder Confirms Six-Hour Director's Cuts; Teases Release Date And Threequel Plans

STAR TREK: LOWER DECKS Has Been Canceled; Will Conclude With Season 5 This Fall

DUNE: PART TWO Now Sits At $683M Worldwide- Will It Reach $700M Before Ending Its Theatrical Run?

Cartoons & Animated Features

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3 Adds THE MATRIX And JOHN WICK Star Keanu Reeves As Shadow

INVINCIBLE's Season 4 And 5 Renewal Leaked By Skybound's AAA Video Games Crowdfunding Campaign

Max Drops The First VELMA Season 2 Trailer Ahead Of Next Thursday's Premiere

Gaming

BORDERLANDS Movie Star Ariana Greenblatt Reveals Her Inspirations For Bringing Tiny Tina To Life

FALLOUT Star Ella Purnell Is Teasing A Deeply Tragic New Season Of Netflix's ARCANE

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3 Adds Keanu Reeves As The Villainous Shadow

Anime & Manga

Donald Glover Teaming Up With Comedian Zack Fox On New Anime

ONE PIECE ODYSSEY Coming To Nintendo Switch This July

ONE PUNCH MAN Movie Still In The Works From Justin Lin; RICK AND MORTY Scribes Rewriting Script

Horror

ABIGAIL First Reviews Land As Movie Earns Fangtastic Early Rotten Tomatoes Score

BEETLEJUICE Star Geena Davis Reveals Why She Didn't Return For Tim Burton's Sequel

Ryan Coogler's Untitled Jim Crow-Era VAMPIRE Movie Officially Begins Production

Action Movies & TV

Alex Garland's CIVIL WAR Is The #1 Movie In North America- Opens To $25.7M

THE ACCOUNTANT 2 Adds Four More Actors Including JURASSIC WORLD Star Daniella Pineda

Edgar Wright's RUNNING MAN Remake Casts TOP GUN's Glen Powell In The Lead

Pro Wrestling & MMA News

The Rock Confirms WRESTLEMANIA 41 Plans; Calls Seth Rollins "MVP" Of This Year's Show Of Shows

Erick Rowan Might Return To WWE As Part Of New Faction With Bo Dallas As Uncle Howdy

The New Day's Big E Shares Huge Update On His WWE Future Following Broken Neck In 2022

Sci-Fi & Fantasy

REBEL MOON Director Zack Snyder Confirms Six-Hour Director's Cuts; Teases Release Date And Threequel Plans

STAR TREK: LOWER DECKS Has Been Canceled; Will Conclude With Season 5 This Fall

DUNE: PART TWO Now Sits At $683M Worldwide- Will It Reach $700M Before Ending Its Theatrical Run?

GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE Has Passed Another Important Milestone At The Global Box Office

Rebecca Ferguson Got A LOT Of Calls From Co-Stars After Calling Out "Idiot" Who Screamed At Her On Set

THE MANDALORIAN Star Gina Carano Claims Co-Stars, Including Pedro Pascal, Have Nothing Bad To Say About Her

Cartoons & Animated Features

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3 Adds THE MATRIX And JOHN WICK Star Keanu Reeves As Shadow

INVINCIBLE's Season 4 And 5 Renewal Leaked By Skybound's AAA Video Games Crowdfunding Campaign

Max Drops The First VELMA Season 2 Trailer Ahead Of Next Thursday's Premiere

Paramount Confirms That Season 5 Of STAR TREK: LOWER DECKS Will Be Its Last