2026 is going to be a busy year for Scar Jo. The Batman universe just added some major intrigue. Sources tell Nexus Point News that Scarlett Johansson is in talks to join The Batman Part II, marking the first significant casting development as Matt Reeves’ sequel heads into pre-production. Details on her role are tightly guarded, though one insider suggests Johansson may be circling a new love interest for Bruce Wayne.
Reeves returns to direct from a script he co-wrote with Mattson Tomlin. The filmmaker will produce through his 6th and Idaho banner with partner Lynn Harris, alongside returning producer Dylan Clark. With the franchise now housed under DC Studios, co-chairs James Gunn and Peter Safran will also produce.
Robert Pattinson, Jeffrey Wright, Andy Serkis and Colin Farrell are all confirmed to return as Bruce Wayne, Jim Gordon, Alfred Pennyworth and Oswald “Oz” Cobb. Zoe Kravitz is not expected back as Selina Kyle. Production is slated to begin in late April 2026 at Warner Bros.’ Leavesden studios and run into the fall.
As for Johansson’s mystery role, several iconic possibilities are already being floated by fans and insiders alike. Andrea Beaumont, also known as The Phantasm, originated in the 1993 animated classic Batman: Mask of the Phantasm and has since entered comics canon. Beaumont is a former fiancée of Bruce who resurfaces in Gotham with a deadly alter ego tied to her father’s past.
Pamela Isley, better known as Poison Ivy, debuted in 1966 and remains one of Gotham’s most enduring femme fatales. A brilliant botanist turned eco-terrorist, Ivy has been portrayed many times across films, series and games.
Vicki Vale, the Gotham Gazette reporter introduced in 1948, has long been entwined with Bruce Wayne’s public life. Kim Basinger famously played the character in Tim Burton’s 1989 Batman.
Julie Madison, who premiered in 1939, holds the title of Bruce Wayne’s earliest love interest in the comics. Often depicted as a socialite or actress, she was last portrayed by Elle Macpherson in Batman and Robin.
Johansson is coming off a high-profile year, most recently starring in Jurassic World Rebirth. She remains best known for her longtime role as Natasha Romanoff in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and will next appear in Mike Flanagan’s upcoming take on The Exorcist. CAA and Yorn Levine represent her.
The Batman Part II arrives in theaters on October 1, 2027 from DC Studios and Warner Bros. Pictures.
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