Let's think outside the Joker—here are 15 other villains to consider for The Batman sequel

Introduced in the comics in 2011, the concept behind the Court of Owls stretches back centuries. A secret society of Gotham’s elite, clad in white masks, the Owls have secretly been pulling the strings in Gotham since before there was even a Gotham. A perfect fit with everything we know about Thomas and Martha Wayne’s secret history in The Batman, there’s no better direction to go than the Court of Owls if Matt Reeves wants to continue exploring the sins of Bruce Wayne’s father.

Deeply enamored with the writings of Lewis Carroll, neuroscientist Jervis Tetch decides to become a character straight from the page. Using mind control technology, Tetch is often found orchestrating crimes that replicate events from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. Appropriately, it’s Hatter’s madness that makes him stand out, meaning that the crimes he commits are among the most visually interesting in all of Gotham.

There have been several different iterations of the time-obsessed villain since the Clock King made his first comic book appearance as a Green Arrow foe in 1960. It’s the sci-fi version introduced on Batman: The Animated Series, however, that would be the most fun to see on the big screen. Able to manipulate the flow of time, Temple Fugate instantly has a power that is not only a lot of fun, but one that Batman simply cannot directly match. It’s enemies like this that force Batman to use his brain and come up with clever ways to stop their seemingly godlike abilities.

A bizarrely sweet pairing developed for Batman: The Animated Series, Killer Croc and Baby Doll are Bonnie and Clyde by way of Gotham City. Growing up with a medical condition that makes him look like a human crocodile, Waylon Jones (who was played by Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje in David Ayer’s 2016 Suicide Squad) turns to a life of crime after growing up on the wrong side of the tracks. Television actress Mary Louise Dahl, meanwhile, has a disorder that stops her from physically aging, forever giving her the appearance of a little girl. Although either character can work solo, there’s something special about seeing these two outcasts find one another and work together despite their criminality.

Originally a criminal who pretended to be a decidedly dapper ghost, the modern version of Gentleman Ghost is an actual supernatural spirit capable of moving through solid objects, teleportation and even a “death touch.” Originally introduced as a Flash villain in 1947, the ethereal foe has had his fair share of encounters with the dark knight, including one instance where he actually defeated Batman in battle and then buried him alive. While it’s hard to imagine the more fantastic iteration of Gentleman Ghost in Reeves’ Gotham, having him as an antagonist would be the perfect opportunity to team Batman up with a costar we haven’t yet seen on the big screen, fellow Justice Leaguer and sometimes romantic interest, the magician Zatanna.

Although he’s forever going to be Superman’s ultimate archnemesis, Lex Luthor has also proven himself a wonderful foil for Batman and, perhaps more importantly, for Bruce Wayne. Luthor is one of the few bad guys who can match both Batman’s wealth and intellect (according to the comics, Bruce is richer, but Lex is smarter). In fact, the only trouble with making Luthor a big screen antagonist for Batman is that it’s impossible to do so without audiences wondering where Superman is while he’s making trouble.

If nothing else, Professor Hugo Strange deserves a spot on this list just for being Batman’s oldest foe, predating even the Joker. A mad scientist, Strange becomes obsessed with Batman, particularly regarding the hero’s secret identity. In the world of The Batman, it would make perfect sense to introduce Strange through Arkham Asylum, potentially even using him to have Batman committed there alongside all the villains that he has put away.

Who is that masked man? It all depends. Originally introduced in 1951 as a costumed criminal who would go on to become the Joker, Red Hood’s recent iteration is more of an antihero with Jason Todd, the second Robin, taking up the mantle. Ultimately, though, Red Hood works best when you have no idea who it is under the mask, letting the mystery take center stage. The same approach has been used for villains like Phantasm and Hush, but Red Hood certainly has the most comic book history. What’s more, with Barry Keoghan’s Joker seemingly on the way, the timing may be perfect to introduce a big screen version that connects to the Red Hood’s first comic book appearance, but offers totally a new identity to figure out.