6 Characters Scarlett Johansson Could Play in ‘The Batman

In one of the most shocking bits of casting news, Scarlett Johansson is reportedly in talks for a key role in The Batman — Part II. Scarlett Johansson spent nearly a decade playing Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, so the idea of her stepping into another comic book property is a surprise to many. Her potential casting aligns with Robert Pattinson, Paul Dano, Zoë Kravitz, and Colin Farrell in The Batman, as Reeves continues choosing acclaimed, award-nominated actors to bring classic DC characters to life.

No details about the role were given, yet many suspect it is either one of the film’s main villains, a potential love interest, or both. Even though it is entirely possible Johansson could be playing an original character created for the film, like Katie Holmes as Rachel Dawes in Batman Begins or Peter Sarsgaard as Gil Colson in The Batman, given Johansson’s superstar status, it is likely Reeves wants her to play a character from Batman’s rich comic history. We’ve narrowed down the six best candidates for who Scarlett Johansson could play in The Batman — Part II, including some iconic villains and a few often overlooked love interests.

6

Poison Ivy

First Appearance: Batman #181 (June 1966)

Created by Robert Kanigher, Carmine Infantino, and Sheldon Moldoff

Poison Ivy ranks low here because her metahuman abilities don’t naturally fit Matt Reeves’ grounded crime saga in The Batman and The Penguin, but she is worth mentioning. Poison Ivy, one of Batman’s most iconic foes-turned-antiheroes, is actually Dr. Pamela Isley, a botanist who turned to eco-terrorism after developing the ability to manipulate plants and create toxic pheromones from her own body. Poison Ivy’s only live-action cinematic appearance was in 1997’s Batman & Robin, played by Uma Thurman, though fans have been waiting for her big screen return.

While Johansson already played one red-headed comic book character in the MCU, Poison Ivy is most likely to show up in the DCU rather than The Batman — Part II. However, many fans did theorize that the experimental drug that Sofia Falcone developed from mushrooms in The Penguin could have been created by none other than Dr. Pamela Isley, potentially setting up the character to appear in The Batman — Part II as a drastically reimagined character with no powers but using plant-based toxins and weapons. Scarlett Johansson as Poison Ivy is certainly a headline that will make audiences take notice and possibly erase any stigma general audiences might have about the character after Batman & Robin.

5

Nora Fries / Mrs. Freeze

First Appearance: Nora – Batman: The Animated Series “Heart of Ice” (Sept. 7, 1992) / Mrs. Freeze – Detective Comics #1014 (October 2019)

Created by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm (Nora), Peter J. Tomasi and Doug Mahnke (Mrs. Freeze)

DC Comics

Nora Fries is best known as the wife of Mr. Freeze. In most incarnations, she is depicted as being a woman frozen in stasis by her husband to save her from dying from a rare blood disease. However, recent comics have developed Nora as her own character, with a recent DC Comics development having her become a cold-based villain, Mrs. Freeze, like her husband.

Mr. Freeze would traditionally fall into the more fantastical class of villains like Poison Ivy, who might not fit The Batman‘s tone, but his cold-based weapons are easy to make fit within Matt Reeves’ take on Gotham City. If Mr. Freeze is the villain for The Batman — Part II, Scarlett Johansson could play a more active Nora who slowly succumbs to her sickness, which transforms her scientist husband into the villainous Mr. Freeze. If Reeves wanted to take a big swing, have Nora serve as Mr. Freeze alongside her husband as a Bonnie and Clyde-style crime couple, or even have Mrs. Freeze fill the role in the Epic Crime Saga that Mr. Freeze typically occupies in most Batman comics.

4

Dr. Leslie Thompkins

First Appearance: Detective Comics #457 (March 1976)

Created by Dennis O’Neil and Dick Giordano

DC Comics

Dr. Leslie Thompkins is an ally of Batman, having served as a surrogate mother to Bruce Wayne, and works as a medical professional helping the underprivileged in Gotham. While Leslie Thompkins is typically depicted as a former friend of Bruce Wayne’s parents, Matt Reeves could reimagine her to be a contemporary of the Caped Crusader. The series Gotham cast Morena Baccarin to play a version of the character who broke away from the grey-haired version in the comics (though she was still intended to be older than Bruce Wayne).

With how The Batman ended with a good portion of Gotham City flooded, there certainly will be a need for first responders, a perfect avenue for Dr. Leslie Thompkins to enter the picture. Leslie Thompkins could also be a much-needed ally for Bruce Wayne/Batman, providing medical aid for larger wounds that Alfred Pennyworth might not be equipped to handle. Johansson and writer/director Matt Reeves certainly would have plenty of free rein to put their own spin on the character.

3

Vicki Vale

First Appearance: Batman #49 (October 1948)

Created by Bill Finger, Bob Kane, and Lew Schwartz

DC Comics

Vicki Vale is best known as the love interest in Tim Burton’s 1989 Batman, played by Kim Basinger. Yet Vicki Vale has always been a relatively minor love interest in Batman’s history when compared to the likes of Catwoman or Talia Al Ghul. Vicki Vale could be an exciting addition to Matt Reeves’ Batman saga and a role Scarlett Johansson could excel in. Casting a major star in a character unseen in films for more than 30 years would mirror the approach taken with Paul Dano and Colin Farrell.

Vicki Vale’s status as a reporter lends itself naturally to the detective tone of The Batman. Both Vicki Vale and Batman could find themselves on the trail of the same conspiracy, possibly one centered on the Court of Owls, and they need to combine their talents. After years of Vicki Vale largely being ignored in Batman media, casting an actress like Scarlett Johansson to play the role in The Batman — Part II would feel like a big deal, bringing back a character who holds a special place in fans’ hearts and in Batman’s cinematic history.

2

Silver St. Cloud

First Appearance: Detective Comics #470 (February 1977)

Created by Steve Englehart and Walt Simonson

Warner Bros. Animation

Silver St. Cloud is an overlooked love interest for Bruce Wayne, as her only live-action appearance was in Gotham, played by Natalie Alyn Lind. However, the character recently appeared in the animated series My Adventures with Superman. She had a brief role in the comics as Bruce Wayne’s girlfriend before leaving after discovering his true identity and not being able to handle the thought of losing him. Silver St. Cloud is a Gotham City socialite traditionally associated with the city’s elite, which could tie nicely in with the film’s rumored villains, The Court of Owls.

In the comics, the Court of Owls is composed of Gotham City’s wealthiest and most influential individuals, a secret society that has shaped the city since its founding. Even though Silver St. Cloud is not typically associated with the Court of Owls, The Batman — Part II could merge the two. Silver St. Cloud could either be a well-meaning member of Gotham’s elite who helps Batman take down the Court of Owls, or someone whom Bruce Wayne believes he can trust before ultimately being betrayed by her and revealing herself to be working with the organization.

1

Andrea Beaumont / The Phantasm

First Appearance: Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (December 1993)

Created by Alan Burnett, Paul Dini, and Bruce Timm

Warner Bros. Animation

The strongest candidate for Scarlett Johansson to play in The Batman — Part II is Andrea Beaumont / Phantasm. Introduced in the critically acclaimed film Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, Andrea Beaumont was Bruce Wayne’s fiancée before he ever became Batman. She had to leave Gotham to flee with her family to escape the mob, ultimately being the final push for Bruce Wayne to become Batman. She returns to Gotham years later to avenge her father’s death and kill everyone responsible. Andrea Beaumont is one of the great loves of Bruce Wayne’s life, and the Phantasm is a dark mirror of what Batman could become, making her an ideal character for The Batman — Part II.

Not only does Andrea Beaumont/The Phantasm fit the role of both love interest and antagonist, but she could also allow for an exploration into what The Batman‘s version of Bruce Wayne was like before donning the cape and cowl. The Batman is set two years into the hero’s crime-fighting career, so The Batman — Part II could use a character like Andrea Beaumont to flesh out the character’s past.

The Phantasm persona has an incredible design that would translate perfectly to the Gotham City Matt Reeves has created. The biggest hurdle to overcome is not retreading what has already been done perfectly in Batman: Mask of the Phantasm. If anyone could put a fresh spin on The Phantasm, it is Matt Reeves, and Scarlett Johansson is the type of A-list casting that the character deserves.