THE BATMAN PART II: Robert DeNiro Reportedly Turned Down Christopher Dent Role In DC Sequel

THE BATMAN PART II: Robert DeNiro Reportedly Turned Down Christopher Dent Role In DC Sequel

According to a new rumour, Joker star Robert DeNiro turned down the seemingly hard-to-fill role of Two-Face's father, Christopher Dent, in Matt Reeves' The Batman Part II.

By JoshWilding - Mar 19, 2026 06:03 AM EST
Filed Under: The Batman 2

With The Batman Part II set to begin production this Spring, the sequel's cast has quickly taken shape. So far, it looks like the main focus will be on the Dent family, with Thunderbolts* star Sebastian Stan playing Harvey Dent and Avengers: Endgame's Scarlett Johansson eyed to portray his wife, Gilda.

The last major role to cast is reportedly Christopher Dent, Harvey's father. It's unclear what that character will bring to the table, but after Brad Pitt, Stellan Skarsgaard, and Daniel Craig supposedly passed on the role, The Lord of the Rings star Viggo Mortensen's name has been thrown around in recent days.

While we'd suggest taking this with a pinch of salt, scooper Jeff Sneider has claimed that screen icon Robert De Niro was offered the role and passed. The Goodfellas star previously played Murray Franklin in Joker, so it's not like he's anti-comic book movie. Perhaps this character just wasn't interesting to him.

For what it's worth, The Batman Part II writer Mattson Tomlin shared a vague X post shortly after Sneider's, writing, "lolololololol."

It's looking increasingly likely that Two-Face will be The Batman sequel's big bad. However, many fans have theorised that Johansson's character—potentially a mashup of Holiday and Phantas—is the movie's real villain. 

Harvey was played by Aaron Eckhart in 2008's The Dark Knight. Before that, Tommy Lee Jones put a wacky spin on Two-Face in 1995's Batman Forever.

In 2024, Stan was asked about the possibility of starring in a Batman movie. "I don’t know if Batman’s for me, but never say never," he said. "I don’t know. There’s so many characters — I told you, I always had a soft spot for that Riddler, but that one’s been done."

In 2016, the Avengers: Doomsday star made a point of praising Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice"I did see Batman v Superman, and I enjoyed it," Stan shared. "I think visually it was insane. I thought Ben Affleck was an incredible Batman. I thought that fight sequence he had against all the guys, that was sick. Even Jesse Eisenberg was cracking me up at some points. That’s all I got.”

Directed by Matt Reeves from a script by him and Mattson Tomlin, The Batman Part II stars Robert Pattinson, Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Colin Farrell, Andy Serkis, and Jeffrey Wright. 

The Batman Part II is set to be released in theaters on October 1, 2027.

About The Author:
JoshWilding
Member Since 3/13/2009
Comic Book Reader. Film Lover. WWE and F1 Fan. Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic and ComicBookMovie.com's #1 contributor.
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SteviesRightFoo
SteviesRightFoo - 3/19/2026, 6:45 AM
All the fart sniffing thespians turning down this role
Dotanuki
Dotanuki - 3/19/2026, 6:48 AM
@SteviesRightFoo - Dean Cain and Kevin Sorbo are probably free.
MotherGooseUPus
MotherGooseUPus - 3/19/2026, 6:56 AM
im finding it hard to believe all these actors are turning down this role.... with that said, idc as this cast is phenomenal and this movie is going to be awesome. i can't wait.

Let Reeves Cook!!
TheJok3r
TheJok3r - 3/19/2026, 7:35 AM
@MotherGooseUPus - Someone said the character will either do or will have done some things the actors aren't comfortable portraying on screen. I'm not sure I believe that personally, but that's what's going around.
MotherGooseUPus
MotherGooseUPus - 3/19/2026, 7:58 AM
@TheJok3r - interesting. i havent heard that but i mean... if its anything like the long Halloween it cant be too too bad... but regardless, i trust reeves and tomlin to write a great story. im sure whoever they cast, will be great
TheJok3r
TheJok3r - 3/19/2026, 8:55 AM
@MotherGooseUPus - Isn't part of Dent's backstory him being abused by his father ? If the movie's going to go into too much detail about it, they may not want to do it for personal reasons.
ImNotaBot
ImNotaBot - 3/19/2026, 9:20 AM
@TheJok3r - Yeah i think that is the case here, the character will probably have some graphic scenes of physical and mental abuse.

Talents often refuse those roles like this to not link their personal image to the character. Taika Waititi had to play Hitler in Jojo Rabbit because no one accepted the offer even tho is a satirical take. Laurence Fishburne reject Pulp Ficton because of the drug use in the movie... i think is silly because some of the most talented talents like Anthony Hopkins played awful beings like Hannibal and became one of the best roles in his career.
bobevanz
bobevanz - 3/19/2026, 10:20 AM
@MotherGooseUPus - take anything Jeff Sneider says with a mountain of salt
Dahulk2001
Dahulk2001 - 3/19/2026, 10:33 AM
@MotherGooseUPus - This is actually true, dents father is a pedo, and is emplyed to have molested his son harvey in this film

No one in Hollyweird wants to play a pedo, especially with all the Epstein talk going on world wide. It hits too close to home since all the big actors are pedos themselves
BillyBatson1000
BillyBatson1000 - 3/19/2026, 7:07 AM
Ouch. But he wasn't too 'Thesp' to make 'Dirty Grandpa'.
UltimaRex
UltimaRex - 3/19/2026, 7:29 AM
We know Guy Pearce can play older...
WruceBayne
WruceBayne - 3/19/2026, 7:38 AM
“Big” names have never been synonymous with Comic Book Movies. Outside of Samuel L. Jackson, comic book roles were usually given to fairly unknown actors/actresses, so I’m not surprised that it’s hard to get a Dinero or a Pitt to do a CBM.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 3/19/2026, 7:45 AM
@WruceBayne - while i would love to have Brad Pitt in a cbm…

I feel that Deadpool 2 blink and you miss it cameo is all we will ever get.

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Dotanuki
Dotanuki - 3/19/2026, 7:47 AM
@WruceBayne - Robert Redford and Anthony Hopkins might disagree
WruceBayne
WruceBayne - 3/19/2026, 8:17 AM
@Dotanuki - ok, fair enough.
WruceBayne
WruceBayne - 3/19/2026, 8:19 AM
@TheVisionary25 - I didn’t even know that was Brad Pitt until DP2 was on streaming. It was a cool little cameo.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 3/19/2026, 7:42 AM
Damn if true , i wonder what it is about this role that is making actors pass it up apparently?.

The thing that does gives me pause though (other then Sneider who can be hit or miss with his scoops) is the wide age range they have for this character starting from Craig (58) to DeNiro (82) now which is weird to me but we’ll see.

However if the Viggo Mortensen rumor is true then that’s a hell of a get since he’s a great & underrated actor who is someone that is very selective about the projects he does so him possibly becoming a part of The Batman Part 2 would elevate the film even more then the cast already has.

Anyway if not then my picks are still Mark Hamill or Guy Pearce for Christopher Dent!!.

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Repian
Repian - 3/19/2026, 7:45 AM
@TheVisionary25 - Tim Robbins
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TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 3/19/2026, 7:50 AM
@Repian - good actor so i would be down for it!!.
Repian
Repian - 3/19/2026, 8:04 AM
@TheVisionary25 - Also, he could have a physical presence as imposing as Stellan Skarsgård's.
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MisterBones
MisterBones - 3/19/2026, 8:23 AM
Who hasn’t turned it down at this point
mackmick761
mackmick761 - 3/19/2026, 8:43 AM
Good, he sucks now. Blue haired Karen
bobevanz
bobevanz - 3/19/2026, 10:20 AM
I also turned it down. Trust me bro
Deadinside
Deadinside - 3/19/2026, 12:37 PM
@bobevanz -
🤞 They'll get to me eventually. I just know it...! 🤞☮️
InfinitePunches
InfinitePunches - 3/19/2026, 10:30 AM
Why does no one want this role? lol

Whatever happens to Harvey's dad must one-up the mayor getting his face duct taped by the Riddler.
Dahulk2001
Dahulk2001 - 3/19/2026, 11:19 AM
@InfinitePunches - so many of the posters here gotta be A.I. bots
InfinitePunches
InfinitePunches - 3/19/2026, 11:39 AM
@Dahulk2001 - I met a homeless guy who told me the same thing about birds.
Dahulk2001
Dahulk2001 - 3/19/2026, 12:08 PM
@InfinitePunches - Ok bot.
InfinitePunches
InfinitePunches - 3/19/2026, 1:16 PM
@Dahulk2001 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solipsism

Okay, schitzo.

(The truth is, we're all paid actors like in the Truman show. Everyone is watching you all the time. You're the only real person.)
McMurdo
McMurdo - 3/20/2026, 2:51 PM
@InfinitePunches - LOLLLLL
Sominan
Sominan - 3/19/2026, 11:58 AM
Maybe the script sucks.

Also, Two Face's dad...who cares? Lol
Dahulk2001
Dahulk2001 - 3/19/2026, 12:12 PM
@Sominan - I know Right..the "all of a sudden" enthusiasm for this soon to be trainwreck is being astroturfed hard with a army of bots and idiots. Real fans are dreading this film.
Matchesz
Matchesz - 3/19/2026, 12:25 PM
kinda seem like a Two Face limited series is a better place for this
ThorArms
ThorArms - 3/19/2026, 12:29 PM
I'm confused. Everything we've been told is that this is unique and the villain has never been done before...but now it's just 2-Face? Huh????
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 3/19/2026, 7:43 PM
If this is going where I think it's going then I hope they take the time to flesh out Jim Gordon's past as well by adapting elements of the classic GN Night Cries.
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They gotta be aware of 'The Eye of the Beholder' too (Batman Annual #14) which is where a lot of that Long Halloween backstory came from.
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