In a world of masked vigilantes and villainous masterminds, the Dark Knight always seems to find himself in the heart of the chaos. After the monumental success of Matt Reeves' more grounded The Batman reboot last year, the fan anticipation has been brewing for the sequel. After introducing Joker, Penguin, and the most nefarious version of The Riddler ever in history, The Batman - Part II will add an iconic rogue to the film's villainous repertoire - Harvey Dent, also known as Two-Face. Just to add to the irony, the choice of the actor to portray the iconic villain boils down to two actors: Josh Hartnett and Joel Edgerton.
The report comes from the insider, John Rocha, on a recent episode of his podcast, The Hot Mic, where he sat down with Jeff Sneider and talked about, among others, The Legend of Zelda movie as well as The Batman sequel.
According to Rocha, the aforementioned two actors are the names Warner Bros. Discovery "are possibly kicking around."
Both actors aren't strangers to critical acclaim, each boasting an impressive filmography. Harnett once starred in films like Pearl Harbor, Black Hawk Down, and Lucky Number Slevin. He was also up for the iconic roles of Batman and Superman in Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins and Bryan Singer's Superman Returns, respectively. Now, Hartnett might finally get his shot at joining a superhero universe, albeit from the opposite of the coin.
On the other hand, Joel Edgerton is a versatile talent with roles in Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, Warrior, and Zero Dark Thirty. His previous collaborations with Robert Pattinson (who plays Batman) on films like The Rover, Life, and The King, could give him the edge over Hartnett.
While both actors are rumored to play Dent, Rocha also hinted that we may witness Dent's transformation into Two-Face by the film's end. This slow-burning narrative may provide an intense character study, allowing audiences to truly comprehend Dent's transformation.
The portrayal of Harvey Dent in previous Batman films has left an indelible mark in film history. Tommy Lee Jones in 1995's Batman Forever highlighted Dent's madness, while Aaron Eckhart presented a more nuanced depiction of Dent's struggle with his dual identity in 2008's The Dark Knight. The new actor will undoubtedly have to navigate this complex character with a fresh perspective while respecting the legacy left by his predecessors.
With Robert Pattinson slated to don the cape and cowl once more, the sequel will reportedly begin production early next year at Warner Bros. Leavesden Studios. Although the plot remains a closely guarded secret, Matt Reeves has hinted at the introduction of Clayface, another iconic Batman villain, in the sequel. Further adding to the excitement, Reeves mentioned his intent to put the characters in "some kind of emotional jeopardy."
Nonetheless, the introduction of Harvey Dent, or potentially his alter ego Two-Face, could mark a pivotal moment in this Batman iteration. Harvey Dent's transformation from Gotham City's renowned District Attorney into the vengeful Two-Face offers a rich narrative potential that could amplify the emotional depth and intensity of the storyline. It remains to be seen whether Hartnett or Edgerton will step into these big shoes, or whether the film may surprise us with an unexpected twist.
For now, fans can look forward to the premiere of The Penguin, which will bridge the gap between the first film and the sequel. Unfortunately, the ongoing WGA strike has affected the production of the upcoming TV show.
