Cillian Murphy has already played an iconic Batman villain in The Dark Knight trilogy, although a newly released screen-test shows that the former DC actor would be perfect for a drastically different foe in The Batman - Part II. While it has not yet been revealed who will be the villain - or villains - of the upcoming The Batman - Part II movie, the film will continue to focus on the universe's grounded world, suggesting certain foes may appear. With forces like The Court of Owls already rumored to operate in Gotham, another terrifying villain would make sense for the sequel.
Cillian Murphy has had a long career in all kinds of cinema, most recently in his acclaimed titular performance in Oppenheimer. Following this performance, many have spread rumors that the actor could join the MCU, with previous calls for Cillian Murphy to play Doctor Doom. While this is not likely to happen after Robert Downey Jr. took on the role, Murphy has proven himself a dynamic and talented actor who could take on many different iconic roles. Following this, the actor is the perfect fit for an unexpected Batman antagonist.
Cillian Murphy's Unused Dark Knight Screen-Test Shows How Promising He Could Be As Hush
The Actor Was Up Against Christian Bale For The Role Of Bruce Wayne In Batman Begins
In a post shared by @historyinmemes on X, Cillian Murphy's screen-test for the role of Bruce Wayne in Batman Begins shows that the actor would be perfect for Hush in the upcoming sequel. The video is a short series of clips, seeing Murphy take on the role of Bruce Wayne surprisingly well. When contrasted with his eventual role as Scarecrow, it's clear the actor's skills are incredibly dynamic and that he possesses strong range - skills which would lend themselves well to the role of Hush in the upcoming sequel should the character appear.
Rumors have circled for some time concerning Hush being the villain in The Batman - Part II, and they make a lot of sense given the villain would naturally align with the crime-focused world and the deep-rooted conspiracy setups of the first film. Thomas Elliot is a childhood friend of Bruce, and is somewhat of an inversion of the Wayne heir, which is further showcased in his own origin story, that notably kicks off with him orchestrating the death of his own parents in response to years of abuse.
As such, seeing Murphy take on the role of Bruce Wayne so well in his screen-test - combined with his effectiveness in the villainous role of Scarecrow - speaks to his aptness for the role of Hush. This would also serve as a way to allow audiences a closer glimpse at what the actor's version of Batman could have been like, albeit via showing them a dark mirror of the role.
Why Cillian Murphy Didn't End Up Being Cast As The Dark Knight Trilogy's Batman
The Actor Describes Himself As "Not The Right Physical Specimen" For The Role
Cillian Murphy opened up about his potential Batman casting when promoting Oppenheimer in 2023. Speaking with GQ, the actor said “I never considered myself as the right physical specimen for Batman. To me, it was always going to be Christian Bale.” However, after this, Nolan clearly saw his potential, and the director found a place for Cillian Murphy as one of the film's villains, Scarecrow. This villain persisted throughout the trilogy, and the actor returned to work with Nolan again in last year's Academy Award winning Oppenheimer.
Cillian Murphy has gone on to have a successful career, starring in acclaimed series like Peaky Blinders and being nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor in 2024. Christian Bale took on the role of Batman in the film trilogy, which was a celebrated performance and is now considered one of the best live-action Batman portrayals. While Cillian Murphy ultimately didn't get the hero role, the insight into what he could have looked like in it speaks to how perfect he would be as Thomas Elliot in Matt Reeves' upcoming sequel.
The Penguin has just referenced a major DC storyline that would be the ideal story for The Batman Part II and is perfectly set up by the series.
Whatever direction The Batman Part II decides to go, bringing back a performer like Cillian Murphy to the Batman franchise in a new role would be an exciting path forward. Hush is a compelling and unique villain that would fit perfectly with the series Matt Reeves has envisioned. Following the incredible run of The Penguin, the story of The Batman Part II is now more exciting than ever, and hopefully a villain like Hush can be effectively used in the sequel to make the franchise even stronger.
The Batman Part II is the sequel to Matt Reeve's The Batman, released in 2022, and will continue where the original film left off. The film shares a universe with the HBO Max original Penguin series and sees the return of the Riddler and a different incarnation of the Joker.
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