The Batman ends with The Riddler behind bars in Arkham, but that doesn't mean he'll be staying there. Distraught that his plan failed, Edward Nashton is comforted by a creepy voice in the cell next door; this was clearly supposed to be The Joker, though director Matt Reeves has confirmed that this is a very early version of the villain captured by the Dark Knight during his first year in Gotham City.
It was hard to be sure what the Clown Prince of Crime looked like, though actor Barry Keoghan definitely had The Joker's trademark smile.
In an interview with The Wrap, The Batman cinematographer Greig Fraser weighed in to share his take on why the "Unseen Arkham Prisoner" was, well, so hard to see! "I can’t comment on who it is, but this Gotham is a bubbling cesspool of crime, isn’t it? So giving a little kiss or an introduction of who else may be living in this prison. I mean, what a fantastic opportunity to do that."
And again, going back to the adage of you don’t want to see too much. You never want to see too much. Sometimes seeing too much can distract from some of the beauty or joy of watching films."
Reeves recently revealed that he shot another scene with The Joker set much earlier in the movie which would have seen the World's Greatest Detective turn to the serial killer for help in getting inside The Riddler's mind, but the Harlequin of Hate would (presumably) have been concealed there, too.
Later in the same interview, Fraser was asked if he'd return for a sequel. "I loved it. I loved the process. I love Matt as a director. So I mean, you can take whatever you want from that. I mean, there’s more stories to be told in this place. There’s more things to do. There’s more opportunities there. This is why it’s such a fantastic world to be in, because it’s a great opportunity to explore this world."
These comments certainly bode well for the future, and given what a beautifully shot movie the DC adaptation was, we'd be shocked if this reunion for The Batman 2 isn't already set in stone. Assuming it does happen, fingers crossed the cinematographer is able to bring The Joker out into the light...