After 37 Years, DC Is Finally Teasing A Classic Batman Villain’s Cinematic Upgrade

Published Sep 19, 2026, 8:32 PM EDT

Jared is a writer, editor, and Communications Studies graduate who loves popular nerd culture (almost anything to do with Marvel, DC, Star Wars, or The Lord of the Rings) and the interactive storytelling medium. Jared's first console was the PS1, wherein he fell for Spider-Man, Spyro the Dragon, and Crash Bandicoot.

The Batman Part II is maybe the most highly anticipated superhero movie sequel of all time, based purely on how much excitement is generated each time something from the set is shown or director Matt Reeves shares something about it on social media. A reason for this is that The Batman Part II is shrouded in mystery still, with hardly anything having been officially revealed aside from several new cast members, and we don’t yet have confirmation of who The Batman Part II’s main villain will be.

If it’s anything like The Batman, we can expect a number of villains in The Batman Part II—a primary one, like Riddler, and at least one or more secondary ones, like Carmine Falcone and Penguin. It’s anyone’s guess whether Harvey Dent/Two-Face, Victor Zsasz, Thomas Elliot’s Hush, or the Court of Owls will appear, but set photos are giving weight to the idea that a street-level anarchist may be poised to play a big role in Reeves’ Epic Crime Saga after all.

Is Anarky Being Teased For The Batman Part II?

The Batman Part II set photos haven’t answered any questions that fans may have, such as who actors Sebastian Stan and Scarlett Johansson are actually playing. That said, what they have revealed is that Gotham City is in a state of unrest, armed with signage that expresses their thoughts on how the rich are mistreating the poor.

Within this crowd, amassing and flailing as Bruce Wayne is escorted through them, fans were quick to notice anarchy symbols and many individuals wearing white masks. Inspired by The Batman’s Riddler, or maybe by Batman himself, the DC villain/antihero Anarky would make a lot of sense in The Batman Part II.

Anarky Is Making A Name For Himself In DC Comics

The best modern adaptation of Anarky was arguably in Warner Bros. Games’ Batman: Arkham Origins, where he played only a minor role as a Most Wanted side mission antagonist. Lonnie then had an even smaller role in Camouflaj’s Batman: Arkham Shadow, where players only hear him via radios.

It’d be quite fortuitous for Anarky to be thrown onto a platform as high as The Batman Part II and become one of the most popular Batman villains ever, then, as fans who are highly anticipating the sequel have a new Anarky-led limited series to look forward to. Gangs of Gotham is spinning out of Matt Fraction’s Batman run this November, and the solicitation for issue #1 reads as follows:

CHRISTOPHER CANTWELL AND MIKE HENDERSON TAKE ON GOTHAM CITY IN THE AFTERMATH OF BATMAN: BAD SEEDS! Anarky rules! Anarky has been given an ultimatum by the Torus: Unify the 100 low-level street gangs not currently under Torus control--or die. If Lonnie Machin succeeds, he’ll get a seat at the table. But if he fails, it’s lights out for Anarky. His first stop? Gotham’s East End--a complete free-for-all for some of Gotham’s nastiest and most uncontrollable individuals. Should be simple enough...right? Spiraling out of the pages of Batman: Bad Seeds and Batman comes Gangs of Gotham, a thrilling, action-packed, street-level criminal saga from Christopher Cantwell and Mike Henderson!

If Anarky truly is an antagonist or antihero figure in The Batman Part II, Gangs of Gotham might be doing a lot of the legwork in helping familiarize readers with Lonnie’s most recent design and incarnation. Indeed, Anarky is basically a brand-new character now compared to how he was depicted in his Detective Comics #608 (1989) debut, adopting a far more modern and urban aesthetic. This look is perfect for The Batman Part II’s DC Elseworlds universe, as well, wherein Lonnie could easily blend in with any of the other hoodlums in Gotham City who wear masks and hooded sweatshirts, wield cans of spray paint, and fear the possibility of running into Batman.

The Batman Part II is scheduled to be released in theaters on February 18, 2028.

• 

  Bruce Wayne / The Batman

• 

  James Gordon

• 

  Alfred Pennyworth

• 

  Oz Cobb

Sequel to 2022's The Batman, director Matt Reeves' cinematic take on the Caped Crusader.