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Published Sep 14, 2026, 11:23 AM EDT
A fan-favorite theory about the movie's villain seems to be true
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Shooting is underway in London for Matt Reeves' The Batman: Part 2, which means plenty of new set photos and videos have been released. The latest behind-the-scenes look at the Robert Pattinson-led superhero sequel teases even more villains, with some details hinting that a long-standing fan theory may be true.
The new footage and photos, which began coming in over the weekend, center on a large protest scene. We see Pattinson as Bruce Wayne navigating a massive crowd while flanked on either side by members of the Gotham City Police Department. The protesting extras are holding signs that read things like "Court of Oligarchs," "Court of Fouls," and "Eat the Rich," among other things. The specific use of "Court" in some signs has fans speculating that the Court of Owls (an iconic villain group that debuted in Scott Snyder's New 52 Batman run) will have a big part to play in The Batman: Part 2. This has long been a favorite theory, fueled by Reeves' statement that the film's villain has never been shown in a movie before.
As a cabal of wealthy Gotham citizens who secretly rule from the shadows, the Court of Owls would make sense in the context of the protest scene. It would also continue threads from the first movie that had this version of Bruce Wayne really struggling with his family's status and the obligations he has to the city beyond his role as Batman. Having a city that villainizes Wayne while lifting up Batman would be an interesting story. The set photos also tease something surprising: the appearance of another villain who could tie into this story perfectly.
The Batman: Part 2 set photos show Anarky
In addition to signs that tease the Court of Owls, the protest scene features a character wearing a white mask and a jacket with the anarchy symbol on it. This is an almost exact recreation of the character Anarky from the comics. As the name might suggest, Anarky (real name Lonnie Machin) is a deeply political character who believes in the radical overthrow of corrupt institutions. This would put him in direct opposition to the Court of Owls as well as Bruce Wayne, who represents the city's wealthy elite.
Anarky has previously appeared in Batman: Arkham Origins and on CW's Arrow. Despite these adaptations, Anarky has never been on the big screen. That fits Reeves' statement once again. If every rumor about The Batman: Part 2 is true, it seems like this film will have a huge rogues' gallery.
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