Scarlett Johansson has given the first real hint about her unannounced role in The Batman: Part II, and it’s not a comfortable one. As IGN reports, Johansson told Entertainment Tonight while promoting her new film Paper Tiger that the part gave her “a lot of existential angst”.
Entertainment Tonight asked which of her upcoming franchise roles, The Exorcist: Martyrs or The Batman: Part II, pushed her furthest outside her comfort zone. Johansson picked Gotham without hesitation. She said the character was very hard to figure out and that she couldn’t tell whether the cause was the role itself or “where I am in my life”. She wrapped up by saying that was all she could share. According to The Hollywood Reporter, she also called it a tough role “in a lot of ways”.
That’s still the extent of what’s confirmed. Johansson didn’t name her character, and GamesRadar notes her comments don’t settle the speculation. The rumour mill points to Gilda Dent, Harvey Dent’s wife, or Poison Ivy. Neither has been confirmed by Warner Bros., DC Studios or director Matt Reeves. The Gilda theory has some circumstantial support, since Charles Dance is reportedly in talks to play Harvey Dent’s father, which would point to the Dent family playing a bigger part in the sequel. That’s inference, though, not an announcement.
Johansson joined the film alongside Sebastian Stan, as we covered when the cast was revealed. She isn’t the only cast member who’s talked up the sequel’s tone. Robert Pattinson has said the film shows an understanding of Bruce Wayne’s and Batman’s psychology that he doesn’t think has been seen before. Johansson’s description of a role that unsettled her fits a film that’s pitched as a deeper psychological dive.
The comments land during a messy production stretch. Reeves stepped away from set to deal with a family matter, and Steven Soderbergh is overseeing the final weeks of principal photography, working with Reeves from a distance. Filming has since resumed in the UK, and Reeves is set to return to the directing reins once the film reaches post-production. If you missed the earlier stages, our report on filming getting under way covers how the shoot began.
For now, the release date hasn’t moved. IGN reports that The Batman: Part II is still scheduled to open in theatres on 18 February 2028. Johansson’s own timeline is busier, with Paper Tiger out now and The Exorcist: Martyrs still ahead.
Who is Scarlett Johansson playing in The Batman: Part II?
Nobody has confirmed it. Johansson hasn’t named her character, and the studio hasn’t either. Fan speculation points to Gilda Dent or Poison Ivy, but both remain rumours.
Who is directing The Batman: Part II now?
Matt Reeves remains the film’s director. Steven Soderbergh is overseeing the final stages of shooting while Reeves deals with a family matter, and Reeves is expected to resume directing duties in post-production.
When does The Batman: Part II come out?
It’s scheduled for theatrical release on 18 February 2028. That date still stands despite the production pause.
