All 8 Villains in Reeve’s The Batman Universe and Everything We Know About Them

Reeve’s Gotham is all about the underbelly of a corrupt city, where Batman has a self-shouldered duty to maintain order.

And in these clashes between the Dark Knight and the villains, we get to see a diabolical range of ideologically deranged fellows. Here’s a whole account!

A List of All the 8 Villains:

1. The Riddler

Played By: Paul Dano

Ooooh, the nightmare in living form. He’s one of the central villains in the Batman universe, but without the characteristic bright green suit and cane, unlike in the comics.

The Riddler here sports an iconic camouflage smock, thick glasses, and a smirk we’re all familiar with. And what does he want? An expose of the corrupt workings of the city’s elite.

Throughout The Batman, Dano’s Riddler plays around Gotham, leaving cryptic puzzles for the Dark Knight to solve, and is often found to view Batman as a partner in his twisted quests. The Riddler does this all in the furtherance of his grand plan of destroying Gotham’s sea wall to submerge the city.

2. The Joker

Played By: Barry Keoghan

This haunting guy is a menace in himself. Arguably the most recognizable villains of all time, The Joker is also found to strike up a dangerous friendship with the Riddler in Arkham Asylum.

This unsettling interaction also teases an event in the past that the Joker and Batman have a common history.

To add to the chaos, the same is confirmed to an extent when fans saw a deleted scene that featured Batman consulting the Clown Prince of Crime. Barry Keoghan’s Joker is grotesque, visibly psychotic, and extremely disturbing.

3. The Penguin

Played By: Colin Farrell

The Penguin, or Oswald “Oz” Cobblepot, becomes quite a formidable villain in The Batman. But this version of The Penguin is seen to take a departure from the crime-lord version in the comics, and is actually portrayed as a mid-level gangster, working for the dark intention of Falcone crime family.

And this is exactly what sets off the rise of the Penguin – the death of Carmine Falcone. More on this can be seen in the spin-off The Penguin.

4. Victor Aguilar

Portrayed by: Rhenzy Feliz

Introduced in The Penguin, Victor “Vic” Aguilar is an original character who begins as a homeless teenager wandering around Gotham.

His life takes a major turn when he and his friends attempt to steal the rims from Oswald Cobblepot’s car. That moment, Oz recognizes the potential in the bold and daring Vic and takes him under his wing.

Later, Victor becomes Oz’s driver and confidant as Penguin cements his criminal empire. Vic gives viewers a chance to witness Gotham’s street-level crime, showcasing the rise of Oz’s power from its foundation.

5. The Falcone Crime Family

At the core of Gotham’s organized crime is the Falcone Crime Family, playing a significant role in both The Penguin and The Batman.

The family faces turmoil after the death of their patriarch, Carmine Falcone, who controlled much of Gotham’s criminal operations.

With Carmine gone, the family is left vulnerable. Although his son, Alberto, briefly takes over, his murder creates a power vacuum. Key figures like Milos Grapa and Johnny Vitti continue to shape the family’s role in the battle for control of Gotham.

6. Sal Maroni & The Maroni Family

Played by: Clancy Brown

Who remembers Gotham’s greatest crime lord before The Batman? It was none other than Sal Maroni. Fans witnessed his downfall after Falcone’s betrayal.

Though Maroni was absent in The Batman, his influence still lingers while his crime empire lies in ruins. However, in The Penguin, it’s revealed that Maroni is still pulling strings from prison, planning to reclaim his lost power.

7. The Trigger Twins

Played by: Charlie and Max Carver

Introduced as bouncers at the Iceberg Lounge, The Trigger Twins have been revamped for Reeves’ universe. Although their roles are minor, these mercenaries engage Batman in intense combat scenes.

Their backstory as suggests they could play a more significant role in future installments.

8. Gotham’s Other Gangs

Reeves’ Gotham is populated by various smaller gangs that help flesh out the city’s criminal underworld. The Odessa Mob and the Burnley Town Massive are two such factions mentioned in The Penguin.

Although they don’t have major roles, they showcase Gotham’s criminal diversity. Similarly, The Riddler’s Followers, a fanatical group inspired by Edward Nashton, continue to pose a threat, hinting that Gotham’s future holds even more chaos.

Before You Go

As The Batman universe expands, Gotham’s villains will only grow more dangerous, ensuring the Caped Crusader has his work cut out for him.

From the terrifying Riddler to the scheming Penguin, Reeves’ villains offer a gritty, realistic portrayal of the chaos lurking beneath Gotham’s streets.

About The Batman

The Batman is an upcoming American superhero film based on the DC Comics character Batman. Produced by DC Films and distributed by Warner Bros. Directed by Matt Reeves and written by Peter Craig, the film will feature Twilight star Robert Pattinson in the titular role.

Other cast members include Zoe Kravitz, Paul Dano, Jeffrey Wright, John Turturro, Peter Sarsgaard, Barry Keoghan, Jayme Lawson, Andy Serkis, and Colin Farrell.

The brand-new Batman solo will see Bruce Wayne/ Batman in his second year of fighting crime as he explores the corruption that plagues Gotham City and how it may tie to his own family, in addition to coming into conflict with a serial killer known as the Riddler. Set in the parallel universe Earth-2, the movie will be separate from the rest of the DCEU canon.