Scarlett Johansson’s rumored role in The Batman Part II has a well-known storyline in Batman comics, but Matt Reeves could take the character in a different direction. It’s been over three years since The Batman, with another two years to go before the sequel arrives in 2027. Story details are still unknown, but it may have added a major star.
As reported by Deadline, Johansson, who starred as Black Widow in the MCU for many years, is in talks to join DC in Reeves’ upcoming The Batman sequel. DC Studios hasn’t confirmed her casting, but the report has led to speculation about whom the Jurassic World Rebirth star could be playing.
The first film included a few teases for the upcoming film’s story, including Barry Keoghan’s Joker. The Penguin also turned Gotham’s crime world upside down, with Colin Farrell’s Oz Cobb now holding a new seat of power. Based on the current state of Reeves’ Batman universe, Johansson’s rumored character may have an unpredictable story.
Scarlett Johansson May Be Playing Gilda Gold In The Batman Part II
While Johansson portrayed a heroic role in the MCU, her DC role could be more villainous. According to Jeff Sneider, The InSneider, the actor will play Gilda Gold, who is primarily known as Harvey Dent’s wife. In addition to her casting, Sneider also reports that the film is looking to cast Harvey and his father.
The addition of Harvey, who eventually becomes Two-Face, isn’t surprising, considering how essential crime and corruption are to Reeves’ universe, but Gilda’s addition raises many interesting questions. While she is Harvey’s wife, many comic book readers associate her with one of the identities behind Holiday.
In The Long Halloween storyline, Holiday is a serial killer who kills various prominent members of Gotham’s gangs on different holidays. The killings fuel the war between the Maronis and the Falcones, with many other villains, such as The Joker and Poison Ivy, also working their way into the story.
While Alberto Falcone confesses to being the holiday killer, it’s later revealed that the killings were started by Gilda, who wanted to lessen Harvey’s workload to spend more time with him. She eventually stopped, but it’s speculated that the rest of the murders were done by Harvey, who becomes Two-Face in the comics.
It’s one of Batman’s most popular comic book storylines, creating an intriguing detective storyline that merges Gotham’s crime world with Batman’s rogues gallery. Gilda’s story fits perfectly within The Batman universe, but Reeves may not be adapting this story, given the storyline that has unfolded thus far.
Gilda’s Addition Doesn’t Mean Matt Reeves Is Adapting The Long Halloween
In The Long Halloween, Holiday mainly dispatches members of the Maroni and Falcone crime families, led by Salvatore Maroni and Carmine Falcone. Both of the two leaders are killed in the story, with Carmine’s daughter, Sofia, also dying, and his son, Alberto, getting arrested as the Holiday killer.
Gilda’s addition to the cast could suggest that Reeves is going in this direction, but the challenge is that many of these characters are either dead or imprisoned. The Riddler killed Carmine in The Batman, and Oz killed Alberto and the Maroni’s in The Penguin. Sofia is still alive, but is currently stuck in Arkham Asylum.
There are also many villains in The Long Halloween that haven’t been introduced in Reeves’ Batman universe yet, including Scarecrow, The Mad Hatter, and Poison Ivy. However, it’ll mainly be difficult to adapt this story without the primary mob figures who are Holiday’s targets. Still, Gilda does have another villain she could go after in the upcoming sequel.
Gilda Could Be An Interesting Enemy For The Penguin
After defeating the Maronis and the Falcones, Oz Cobb is the new king of Gotham’s criminal underworld. The Penguin’s ending sees Oz overlooking his new empire from a luxurious penthouse, as the Bat-signal is illuminated over Gotham, indicating that Batman won’t let Oz rule easily.
Batman may not be the only threat that Penguin needs to look out for. If Harvey is being added to the sequel, he’ll likely lead the charge against Penguin, going after corrupt politicians or police officers who are on Oz’s payroll. That could change after he becomes Two-Face, but Harvey is initially an attorney who seeks justice.
With Harvey preoccupied with his battle against Oz, Gilda may grow frustrated with his busy schedule and adopt the Holiday mantle, loosening Penguin’s grip on the city through her own methods. This would adapt her story from The Long Halloween, while also following a trend in Reeves’ Batman universe.
Each project in The Batman‘s world includes a strong female character who confronts the mob. Catwoman worked with Batman to get vengeance on Carmine, who turned out to be her father, while Sofia got vengeance on those who deserted her after she took the fall for her father’s crimes.
Gilda may not have a personal vendetta against The Penguin, but that could change depending on what happens in the upcoming sequel. The story for The Batman Part II is shrouded in secrecy, and Reeves has plenty of freedom regarding Johansson’s speculated role.
