Scarlett Johansson's next superhero stint might be in the DC Universe — here's all you need to know
Following her stellar stint in the MCU, Scarlett Johansson is all set to step into the superhero world of the DCU. The actress, famous for playing Natasha Romanoff in the MCU, was last seen in 2021's 'Black Widow' before bidding farewell to the much-celebrated franchise. If recent reports are to be believed, the actress is circling an iconic role in Matt Reeves' 'The Batman Part II' movie, making our wait harder than ever for the action flick.
Johansson is reportedly close to joining 'The Batman Part II', with Deadline confirming she's in final negotiations for a role in the DC sequel. While DC Studios hasn't commented yet, Johansson is expected to film 'The Exorcist' before production on the sequel begins in 2026. Her addition also comes amid reports, still unconfirmed by Reeves or Warner Bros, that Zoë Kravitz's Catwoman may not appear in the film.
Johansson's character remains unknown, but the secrecy surrounding her involvement suggests she may be playing a major DC figure, as reported by ScreenRant. The plot of 'The Batman Part II' is still under wraps, but the film will pick up soon after the events of 'The Penguin' series and continue within DC's Elseworlds banner. Set for a 2027 release alongside James Gunn's 'Man of Tomorrow', the sequel reportedly takes place in winter, fueling fan speculation that Mr. Freeze could serve as the main villain, though Gunn has already ruled out characters like Hush from appearing.
Notably, just months after 'The Batman' premiered in March 2022, a sequel was confirmed at CinemaCon that April, with Pattinson set to return as Bruce Wayne and Reeves once again writing (alongside Mattson Tomlin) and directing. Praising the fresh take on the iconic hero, then Warner Bros chief Toby Emmerich announced that Reeves, Pattinson, and the team would bring audiences back to Gotham in the sequel, as per Gold Derby.
Alongside Pattinson, several key cast members from 'The Batman' are expected to return for the sequel. Jeffrey Wright shared that he plans to reprise his role as Commissioner Jim Gordon, though he hasn't read the script yet. Andy Serkis expressed enthusiasm about returning as Alfred, saying he loved working with Pattinson and was excited after hearing Reeves' story for the sequel. Reeves also confirmed that Colin Farrell's Oz Cobb, aka the Penguin, will return, following his HBO spin-off series 'The Penguin'.
