DC's Reported Barry Keoghan Joker Show Could Do Something No Previous Batman Movie Has Been Able To

First introduced as "Unseen Arkham Prisoner," Barry Keoghan was confirmed to be portraying The Batman Epic Crime Saga's version of the Joker in a deleted scene from the 2022 movie. Keoghan's brief moments in The Batman may have set him up for a larger role in Matt Reeves' upcoming The Batman - Part II, scheduled to be released in October 2026, or in the planned third film in the trilogy. However, there has recently been speculation that Barry Keoghan's Joker could have a much more significant role in The Batman and The Penguin's universe.

Barry Keoghan Is Reported To Return In A Solo Joker Series

Barry Keoghan Debuted As An Arkham Prisoner In The Batman

Barry Keoghan's debut in The Batman spurred hopes that his very different version of the Joker would be developed further in future projects in The Batman Epic Crime Saga. While it's very possible upcoming movies could expand on the Joker's story, there has also been speculation that Keoghan will reprise his villainous role in a solo HBO series along the same lines as the Colin Farrell-led The Penguin. Even though James Gunn has debunked this speculation, it would be brilliant for Barry Keoghan's Joker to get his own show nevertheless.

James Gunn's confirmation that a Joker-centric series is "not being discussed nor has even come up at this time" is disappointing, but this doesn't rule out the possibility of a Barry Keoghan-led series being produced in the future. In fact, this could be the perfect The Batman spinoff to release in the space between 2026's Part II and the subsequent Part III. This could set up Barry Keoghan's Joker as the perfect The Batman - Part III villain, and develop the villain far more than any of the Joker's previous live-action iterations.

How A Joker Show Could Connect The Batman 2 And 3

Another Spinoff Series Set Up The Perfect Villain For The Batman - Part II

Perhaps the most convincing argument for producing a series focused on Barry Keoghan's Joker is that this could bridge the gap between The Batman - Part II and Part III. This has already been proven successful, as The Penguin has done the exact same thing for The Batman and its upcoming sequel. Colin Farrell returned as Oswald "Oz" Cobb from The Batman, and the sequel saw Oz rise to power in the criminal underworld of Gotham City, setting him up as the perfect villain opposite Robert Pattinson's Bruce Wayne in The Batman - Part II.

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Face It, A New Joker Spin-Off Couldn't Work Without Robert Pattinson's Batman, Despite The Penguin's Success

While The Penguin has found great success on HBO, future spinoffs in Matt Reeves’ epic crime saga, especially if featuring the Joker, need Batman.

Barry Keoghan's Joker had a similarly small role in The Batman, though Oz Cobb was given more focus as the lieutenant to John Turturro's Carmine Falcone, while the Joker was barely seen at all. The Batman - Part II could give the Joker a more substantial role, setting him up for a larger role in a possible solo series, and teeing him up as the primary antagonist of The Batman - Part III. No other spinoff shows have been announced for The Batman Epic Crime Saga, but after The Penguin's success, it's inevitable more are on the cards.

A Joker Show Could Do Something No Previous Movie Has Been Able To

Barry Keoghan's Joker Series Could Be Developed More Than Any Other

Over the years, the Joker has become one of DC's most-adapted characters in live-action, allowing many vastly different interpretations of the villain to appear in live-action. However, developing a solo series about Barry Keoghan's Joker presents the opportunity for DC Studios to do something no previous Joker adaptation has pulled off. Fleshing the Joker out in a solo series could actually develop his backstory, which is something that most previous projects, and DC Comics itself, have avoided, which could explain why he became the Joker, what his true history is and what true threat he poses.

The Joker has always elected to leave his origin story in DC Comics up to audience interpretation, and this has allowed his live-action appearances to do the same. It's been rare that an on-screen Joker has an actual backstory, meaning The Batman Epic Crime Saga could do something completely new. Matt Reeves told IGN in 2022 that Barry Keoghan's Joker has a congenital illness that caused his scarring and haunting smile, and this deserves to get more development. A solo series would be the perfect way to go, revealing more about the Joker than ever before.

The Joker Would Be A Better Villain In The Batman 3 After A Solo Series

Barry Keoghan's Joker Would Be The Perfect Villain For The Batman - Part III

Developing Barry Keoghan's Joker in a solo series following The Batman - Part II would help to establish the villain as a more significant threat, and would allow The Batman - Part III to jump into the action immediately. No time would be wasted on setting up the Joker as an antagonist, as all the groundwork would have already been done. The Batman introduced the Joker, and a possible but unconfirmed solo series could reveal more about his origins and his history with Robert Pattinson's Batman prior to the release of the universe's much-anticipated upcoming movies.

The Batman follows a young Bruce Wayne as he investigates a sadistic serial killer targeting key political figures in Gotham. As he delves deeper, he is confronted by the city's hidden corruption and questions surrounding his own family's legacy.

Release Date March 4, 2022

Runtime 176 minutes

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