The Batman 2: Mr. Freeze Is The Perfect Villain To Test Bruce Wayne
The Batman introduced several iconic villains, and while there are many other characters that would make great additions to Matt Reeves’s planned trilogy, the best choice for the first sequel’s antagonist is Mr. Freeze. The gothic, corruption-heavy Gotham City would be the perfect playground for villains like Clayface or the Joker, but the last movie left Batman at a crossroads, and he now requires someone to fuel his full metamorphosis from vengeance-seeking vigilante to a true superhero. In The Batman, Bruce Wayne begins to lower his emotional defenses, allowing himself to truly care for Alfred and Selina Kyle while realizing that the city is not totally lost to corruption. Mr. Freeze would offer the perfect opportunity for Batman to embrace this less-nihilistic mindset and realize he can be a hero outside of his Batman persona.
Mr. Freeze is traditionally one of Batman’s more sympathetic villains, with his backstory revolving around his effort to save his terminally ill wife, Nora. His attempt to then cryogenically freeze Nora until a cure for her condition can be discovered goes horribly wrong, leaving him only able to survive in sub-zero temperatures. In many versions of Mr. Freeze's origin, his experimentation on Nora is prematurely shut down by his company's CEO, which would tie him into The Batman's themes of corporate greed and corrupted leaders. Seeking the money and technology needed to save Nora, Mr. Freeze usually targets Gotham’s high society and scientific community, which gives him many opportunities to run into Bruce Wayne. As Bruce pieces the puzzle of Mr. Freeze's motivation together, he always apprehends the villain but also ensures Nora's survival through Wayne Enterprises.
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