Across the DC Universe’s multiple Batman franchises over the years, there are characters who have missed the mark. While some deviated too far from the comics’ source material, others were far too ridiculous to be taken seriously. Additionally, some Gotham villains and heroes were never given a fair shot in the first place, making it hard to identify them as either failures or successes.
Currently, DC Studios is in a prime position to provide second chances for Batman characters needing redemption with more successful depictions on-screen. Not only does DC have Matt Reeves’ ongoing The Batman trilogy with spin-off series in its own universe, but it will soon have Batman: The Brave and the Bold, a new version of Batman and Gotham City that will be connected to the wider DCU envisioned by new heads James Gunn and Peter Safran. Here are 10 Batman characters from the movies who can be fixed in this new era.
10 Mister Freeze
In Joel Schumacher’s Batman & Robin, Arnold Schwarzenegger played Victor Fries aka Mister Freeze. Despite retaining the core beats of the classic villain from the comics, Schwarzenegger’s role was widely criticized for his more goofy persona, a perfect example being his unending steam of ice-related puns. Each one is more groan-worthy than the last.
In truth, Mister Freeze is one of Batman’s most tragic and intimidating villains, having resorted to crime to save his dying wife he’s kept cryogenically frozen until he can find a cure. While this is also the case for Freeze in Batman & Robin, the intimidation factor was nowhere to be found. He’s much darker in the original DC Comics, his genius making him more than a match for Batman along with his incredibly sympathetic motivations. As such, a more dynamic and serious Mister Freeze has been a fan frontrunner to be the villain in The Batman-Part II.
9 Poison Ivy
The silly and campy themes of Joel Schumacher’s Batman & Robin had a similar effect on Uma Thurman’s Poison Ivy. While it’s important to note that there’s nothing inherently wrong with camp or goofier tones, Schumacher’s Batman & Robin and the preceding Batman Forever work better as homages to the 1966 Batman shows starring Adam West than they do as continuations of the Batman moves directed by Tim Burton. The inherent silliness of Schumacher’s Poison Ivy doesn’t mesh very well (and the same can be said for Freeze).
A woman with monstrous control over plant life who cares more about saving the planet than she does about humanity who constantly harms it, the Poison Ivy in Batman & Robin had her origins bizarrely intermingled with Bane’s (who’s already been fixed thanks to The Dark Knight Rises). Additionally, the overtly campy tone saw Ivy being depicted more as a seductress rather than one of Batman’s most powerful villains from the comics. While Ivy does use her looks and pheromones to attract and influence, it’s far more balanced on the page with her even greater powers as an avatar of The Green (like Swamp Thing).
8 Robin
It’s been quite a long time since Batman’s partner Robin has been seen on-screen. While a version of Robin was technically teased in The Dark Knight Rises, “Robin” was the actual first name of Detective John Blake (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) who at that point was already positioned to become the next Batman. Likewise, the Robin belonging to Ben Affleck’s Batman in the DCEU had already been killed by Jared Leto’s Joker. Beyond the live-action Robins seen on the small screen with HBO’s Titans, the last movie Robin was played by Chris O’Donnell in the Schumacher Batman movies.
Thankfully, a new version of Robin will soon debut in the DCU’s Batman: The Brave and the Bold. Damian Wayne is confirmed to be joining Batman with the father and son joining forces for the first time on-screen. Hopefully, this also means that the previous three Robins will have already been established, allowing the DCU to epically make up for Robin’s years-long absence ever since the late 90s.
7 Batgirl
Another bizarre element of Batman & Robin was its inclusion of Batgirl. Rather than following the comics, this Batgirl was Alfred Pennyworth’s niece rather than Barbara Gordon from the comics, Commissioner Jim Gordon’s daughter. Regardless, the DCU was incredibly close to a Batgirl movie on HBO Max with Leslie Grace in the titular role. However, the movie was ultimately canceled before it could be released. As it stands, a movie version of Barbara Gordon’s Batgirl has yet to be featured. Hopefully, The Brave and the Bold can establish more of the Bat-Family beyond Robin, and perhaps this is how Grace’s Batgirl can finally debut.
6 Ra’s al Ghul
Liam Neeson’s Ra’s al Ghul was excellent for the more grounded world envisioned by the Dark Knight trilogy’s director Christopher Nolan. However, this meant that many of the key supernatural elements of the Batman villain were omitted. In the comics, Ra’s al Ghul has lived for centuries as a warlord and leader of the League of Assassins and Shadows, achieving his immortality by bathing in the regenerative waters of the Lazarus Pit which can supernaturally resurrect the dead. Viewing Batman as his one true heir, the complex relationship between the villain and Gotham’s protector was touched on but only briefly explored in the Dark Knight trilogy.
5 Talia al Ghul
Unfortunately, Marion Cotillard’s role as Talia al Ghul in The Dark Knight Rises was widely panned as one of the movie’s weakest elements. Everything that makes Talia so engaging in the comics wasn’t given any real depth, especially after she was reduced to being a two-dimensional villain in the film’s final act. On the page, Talia is a major love interest of Batman’s while often still serving her father and the League. She’s also Damian’s mother, further complicating her relationship with Batman even in her most villainous moments. A more accurate Talia al Ghul in the DCU’s future would be most welcome (perhaps in The Brave and the Bold).
4 Deathstroke
Despite having been teased at the end of both the theatrical cut of Justice League and Zach Synder’s Justice League, Joe Manganiello’s Deathstroke has yet to make any kind of full appearance in the DCEU. Likewise, it’s currently unknown if his version of Deathstroke will survive into the new DCU that’s about to emerge from DC Studios. Regardless, Deathstroke is an incredible villain for Batman as the world’s greatest mercenary and assassin. Any version of Slade Wilson deserves to be seen on the big screen as soon as possible.
3 Vicki Vale
Having only appeared in the first Batman movie directed by Tim Burton, it would be great to see reporter Vicki Vale make a return in a future DC movie. A seeker of the truth no matter the cost, Vicki was a very interesting love interest for Bruce Wayne who ended up learning he was the Caped Crusader. However, her role was written out of Batman Returns with a line saying she eventually couldn’t cope with Bruce’s double life as a vigilante.
That being said, it would be interesting to see how a new version of Vicki would be depicted in the DCU. Perhaps this Vicki doesn’t learn the truth about the Dark Knight right away. Instead, she’s constantly trying to discover Batman’s secret identity while also being with Bruce Wayne, creating a conflict within Bruce himself about all the secrets he constantly keeps from those he cares about (even those who’ve joined him in his crusade).
2 Clayface
Clayface is rumored for The Batman-Part II, though he’s only had one live-action depiction on television. However, Gotham’s version of Clayface was not a giant monster made of mud. Instead, Clayface looked like a normal man who could shape-shift and impersonate others. While this is a power that’s been used by the Clayface in the comics, his default appearance is indeed a mud monster. However, a stronger balance between the two would be quite entertaining if the villain ends up in a movie. After all, Basil Karlo was an actor before he became Clayface.
1 Court of Owls
While they’ve yet to make their movie debut, The Court of Owls has been seen in several DC projects in recent years. This includes video games, and they’ve also been featured in both the live-action Gotham and Gotham Knights television shows. A secret cabal of Gotham’s rich and elite who shape the city for their own ends, the members of the Court and their Talon assassins are some of the most dangerous Batman foes. However, continuity changes combined with television budgets have yet to provide a depiction of the Court that’s worthy of how they appear on the page. Perhaps a role in a Batman movie can change that.
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