The Batman's Joker Scars Change Risks Repeating A Criminal Movie Villain Sin
Warning: Contains spoilers for The Batman.
Matt Reeves has teased a new origin for The Batman’s Joker, but the change to his scars threatens to repeat a criminal movie villain sin. The Clown Prince of Crime only appears briefly toward the end of The Batman, but his cameo teases a sinister partnership in a future installment. Reeves’ explanation for the Joker’s new appearance, mostly obscured by darkness, risks copying an overused trope common in James Bond films.
Set during his second year of crimefighting, The Batman sees Robert Pattinson’s vigilante track down the serial killer The Riddler (Paul Dano). Confronting Gotham City’s rampant corruption alongside Lt. Gordon (Jeffrey Wright), Batman encounters various members of his rogues' gallery. However, The Batman’s cut Joker scene would have seen him come face to face with his greatest enemy. Instead, the psychopathic clown receives just a few seconds of screen time, consoling Riddler in Arkham Asylum.
Related: Did Robert Pattinson’s Batman Already Fight & Defeat The Joker?
Although Barry Keoghan is simply credited as “Unseen Arkham Prisoner,” it’s obvious he is the Joker. His face is barely visible, but it’s apparent he has scars around his mouth, akin to The Dark Knight’s Joker. In a twist, however, director Matt Reeves has revealed that in The Batman’s universe, Keoghan's Joker has had his scars from birth, his permanent smile the result of a disease. It only serves to continue the outdated trope of facial wounds and scars signifying a character's villainy. It’s possible The Batman’s Joker will avoid No Time To Die’s villain mistake, but having scars as the origin of his murderous inclinations could send the wrong message.
Reeves was inspired by The Elephant Man but
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