We at NerdLeaks are watching a fresh swirl of casting chatter around The Batman 2, and it all traces back to a seemingly innocuous social post from one of the film’s co-writers. Take this with a pinch of salt, but if true, the sequel could be setting up a major return for a classic Batman villain.
What Was Reported
According to GamesRadar, rumours are circulating that Scarlett Johansson may be playing a grounded version of Poison Ivy in The Batman 2. These whispers reportedly come from multiple unofficial DC news pages and should be treated as unconfirmed.
GamesRadar points to a possible hint from co-writer Mattson Tomlin: back in July 2025, Tomlin shared the first Batman comic he ever read on Twitter — Batman #181, which was published in June 1966. That issue marks Poison Ivy's DC Comics debut, and some fans see Tomlin's post as a sly nod to the sequel’s villain choices.
The report also notes other casting items and story teases reportedly connected to the sequel. Sebastian Stan and Brian Tyree Henry have been cast in mystery roles, with many believing Stan might play Victor Zsasz and Henry could be portraying Harvey Dent. Behind-the-scenes snaps from director Matt Reeves allegedly suggest the criminal organisation known as the Court of Owls may play a major part in the new film.
Per GamesRadar, the only confirmed characters at this stage alongside Robert Pattinson's Batman are Andy Serkis's Alfred Pennyworth, Colin Farrell's Oz Cobb, Jeffrey Wright's Jim Gordon, Jayme Lawson as Bella Real, and Gil Perez-Abraham as Officer Martinez. The source also notes that The Batman 2 is set to hit theaters on October 1, 2027.
The Source & Credibility
We rely on GamesRadar for the initial aggregation of these rumours, but the site itself flags the Scarlett Johansson/Poison Ivy claim as something to take with a grain of salt. The Johansson speculation is described as coming from multiple unofficial DC news pages, not from an official studio announcement.
The Tomlin tweet is a concrete, verifiable action: GamesRadar reports he shared Batman #181 on Twitter in July 2025. The comic’s historical significance — being Poison Ivy’s debut — is factual. Whether that share was intended as a tease or was purely nostalgic is not confirmed and remains speculative.
On casting, GamesRadar explains Stan and Henry are in mystery roles, with fan theories linking them to Victor Zsasz and Harvey Dent. Those are widely circulated beliefs rather than verified casting announcements tied to specific characters. Similarly, behind-the-scenes snaps allegedly hinting at the Court of Owls are suggestive but not definitive.
What It Could Mean
If any of this pans out, the implications for The Batman 2 are notable — though again, everything here is speculative. Adding Poison Ivy could signal a shift towards botanical or environmental threat themes, or a more political, activist-driven antagonist depending on the film’s tone.
Casting And Tone
- Scarlett Johansson As Poison Ivy (Alleged) — If true, this would be a high-profile casting that could reframe Poison Ivy within Matt Reeves’ moody Batman world. GamesRadar suggests such a portrayal would likely be very different from Uma Thurman’s portrayal in 1997's Batman and Robin, describing Thurman’s take as “electric and eccentric.”
- Sebastian Stan And Brian Tyree Henry In Mystery Roles — If fan speculation about Stan as Victor Zsasz and Henry as Harvey Dent is correct, the sequel could feature a mix of street-level killers and high-profile political conflicts.
- Court Of Owls Presence (Alleged) — A prominent Court storyline could expand Gotham’s criminal ecosystem and tie together multiple villain arcs if those behind-the-scenes teases are intentional.
Why This Matters
Why should readers care? For starters, Poison Ivy hasn’t been seen on the big screen since Uma Thurman in 1997, and her return — if real — would be a noteworthy pivot for the franchise. The mix of high-profile names allegedly attached and the possibility of the Court of Owls shaping the plot could mean The Batman 2 is aiming to broaden its villain roster beyond a single antagonist.
That said, all of this remains rumour territory. GamesRadar itself urges scepticism, and we repeat that caution: these claims are unconfirmed, and Mattson Tomlin’s July 2025 Twitter share is only circumstantial evidence. We’ll keep digging and will let readers know if anything firm emerges, but for now, treat the Scarlett Johansson/Poison Ivy connection as an intriguing hint rather than a confirmed reveal.
