A new Batman trailer also introduces the Joker
Matt Reeves made the Riddler the primary villain of his 2022 film The Batman, emphasizing the hero’s detective skills as he tries to unravel his schemes in a story reminiscent of a David Fincher serial killer story. The film led to an excellent spinoff series focused on the Penguin and rumors abound about who Reeves will pick to terrorize Gotham in The Batman Part 2. But the Riddler is back in the spotlight in a trailer for Reeves’ next project.
Reeves is an executive producer of Prime Video’s Batman: Caped Crusader along with J.J. Abrams and Bruce Timm. Amazon shared a trailer for season 2 of the spiritual successor to Timm’s Batman: The Animated Series at the Annecy Festival on June 24. The trailer revealed that the Riddler will serve as the primary villain of the season, with Edward Nygma portrayed as a gangster who wants to get rid of Batman to run Gotham. He seems to be teamed up with Poison Ivy, seen applying some green lipstick that’s probably very dangerous.
Showrunners Bruce Timm and James Tucker have been reimagining members of Batman’s rogue’s gallery including gender flipping the Penguin and removing the Joker from Harley Quinn’s origin story. Season 2 will continue to put fresh spins on threats to Gotham including Firefly, Manbat, and Solomon Grundy. The show’s version of the Mad Hatter is the host of a TV show called Hattie’s Tea Party who is trying to turn public sentiment against Batman, putting a new twist on the villain’s penchant for brainwashing.
Harley Quinn returns to question Batman’s sanity and the Joker, who made a brief appearance in season 1, ominously promises to show Batman who he really is. A first look image shows Joker lurking in the back of a luxurious apartment while a victim of his toxin sits on the couch wearing a rictus grin.
All 10 episodes of Batman: Caped Crusader will be available to stream on Prime Video on July 31.