MOVIE NEWS – A rumor that Scarlett Johansson could leave the colorful Marvel multiverse for Matt Reeves’ gritty Gotham has sparked a wave of speculation that Batman: Mask of the Phantasm might finally be adapted into a live-action film. If that theory proves true, The Batman 2 would not just be another sequel, but a bold reimagining of one of the Dark Knight’s most tragic and beloved stories.
Everything started with a small piece of information shared by Nexus Points, suggesting that Scarlett Johansson might join the universe of The Batman. Even though Warner Bros. has not confirmed anything, the fact that the rumor quickly appeared on sites like Variety has given it a certain weight and, above all, fired up fan imaginations. From that moment on, it was inevitable that people would begin to ask which character Johansson could play and what kind of comic book arc Matt Reeves might bring to the screen in his grounded take on Gotham.
As usual, fan theories cover a huge range of possibilities. Some see her as a potential Talia al Ghul, others imagine a completely new version of Harley Quinn, while many argue she could embody a brand new character created specifically for this continuity. One of the most popular ideas, however, is that Johansson could become Poison Ivy, Gotham’s eco-terrorist who still lives in many viewers’ memories thanks to Uma Thurman’s turn in 1997’s Batman & Robin. That option is not as far-fetched as it might sound: Johansson has repeatedly shown she can handle morally ambiguous, layered roles, and she would offer a sharp contrast to the raw, realistic tone Reeves has established.
At the same time, there has been constant talk that the sequel might draw from Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee’s celebrated Hush storyline. That saga centers on a new villain who pulls the strings of Gotham’s underworld and manipulates the media while targeting Batman’s closest relationships. It is undeniably rich material, but it is also crowded and structurally complex, and it is hard to see where Johansson could naturally fit into that web without overloading the film with contrived twists. For that reason, many fans seem more excited by another possibility, one that points toward a live-action version of Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, long regarded as one of the definitive Batman stories.
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, the forgotten masterpiece
Released in 1993, Batman: Mask of the Phantasm was conceived as a cinematic extension of the acclaimed Batman: The Animated Series and proved just how emotionally deep a Batman story could go. Unfortunately, it arrived at a tough moment: it had to compete with prestige dramas like Schindler’s List and Philadelphia. It was overshadowed by the live-action Batman films associated with Tim Burton. Commercially, the movie never got the recognition it deserved, but time has been kind. Today, critics and fans often cite it as one of the best adaptations of the Dark Knight before Christopher Nolan’s trilogy.
The plot follows Batman as he investigates a mysterious new vigilante, the Phantasm, who appears in Gotham and begins eliminating key figures in organized crime. At the same time, Bruce Wayne crosses paths again with Andrea Beaumont, the great love of his past, forcing him to reconsider whether he can still build a personal life or whether his vow to protect the city will consume him entirely. That emotional dilemma runs parallel to a crime story that keeps tightening the noose around Gotham’s elites.
Much of the narrative unfolds through flashbacks, which revisit Bruce’s early attempts at crime-fighting, long before he became the figure criminals feared in the shadows. The film captures the moment when a grieving young man slowly turns into Batman, and it does so with remarkable nuance. This structure, which moves between a bruised present and a formative past, would fit perfectly with the continuity of Reeves’ universe, where The Batman presented a still inexperienced, angry vigilante whose origin story is far from fully told.
The Dark Knight’s psychology and tragedy
What makes Batman: Mask of the Phantasm truly special is not only its noir-inflected plot, but also the way it dives into Bruce Wayne’s inner life. At its core lies a painful question: can Bruce ever be genuinely happy, or is he condemned to live forever under the weight of his childhood trauma and the promise he made at his parents’ graves? The film avoids turning him into an untouchable icon and instead presents a vulnerable, conflicted man torn between his emotional needs and his self-imposed mission.
That psychological emphasis lines up perfectly with the grounded approach Matt Reeves has been taking with Robert Pattinson’s incarnation. In the animated film, Kevin Conroy brings a deeply human dimension to Batman’s voice, while Dana Delany’s performance as Andrea Beaumont adds layers of charm, steel and heartbreak. Mark Hamill’s Joker, meanwhile, delivers a terrifying blend of morbid humor and genuine menace, which is one reason his interpretation has become a benchmark for many fans when they think of the Clown Prince of Crime.
Visually, the film leans into a stylized, art deco Gotham that feels timeless and oppressive, while Shirley Walker’s gothic score reinforces the sense of dread and melancholy. It works both as a love letter to classic Batman comics and as a bridge to seminal works like Batman: Year One and Batman: Year Two. The city feels like a living organism – retro at first glance, but rotten to the core – which is exactly the kind of atmosphere Reeves has already been building on screen.
Where would Scarlett Johansson fit in?
If Warner Bros. and Matt Reeves decide to use Batman: Mask of the Phantasm as a template for The Batman 2, the most natural place for Scarlett Johansson would almost certainly be Andrea Beaumont. She is the woman who represents the possibility of happiness for Bruce Wayne, while also hiding her own scars and secrets. It is a role that demands strength, vulnerability, and a sense of mystery, all qualities Johansson has already demonstrated across her career.
The original movie accomplishes a lot in under eighty minutes. Directors Bruce Timm and Eric Radomski, together with writer Alan Burnett and the rest of the creative team, juggle parallel storylines, explore Bruce’s past and still find room for striking action sequences. Translating that density to live action would require careful adaptation, but it could also add new dimensions to Pattinson’s Batman, showing more clearly what he has had to sacrifice and what he still stands to lose.
Until any of this is officially confirmed, the best way for fans to fuel their imagination is to revisit Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, which is currently available on Max. The film offers one of the Dark Knight’s most haunting and emotional adventures and makes it very easy to picture how Scarlett Johansson and Robert Pattinson could share the screen in a Phantasm-inspired, live-action Gotham.
Source: 3djuegos
