So, you’ve probably seen the grainy, five-minute clip of Robert Pattinson’s Batman sitting across from a terrifying, out-of-focus monster in a glass cage. If you haven’t, you're missing out on what basically amounts to a masterclass in psychological tension. This is the The Batman deleted Arkham scene, a sequence that director Matt Reeves ultimately left on the cutting room floor, much to the chagrin of fans who wanted every scrap of Barry Keoghan’s "Unnamed Arkham Prisoner" they could get.
It’s intense. Honestly, it’s one of those scenes that feels like it belongs in The Silence of the Lambs rather than a standard superhero flick. But why was it cut? And what does it actually tell us about this new version of the Joker?
What happens in the deleted Arkham scene?
The scene takes place about halfway through the film. Batman is stuck. The Riddler is killing city officials, leaving cryptic notes, and Bruce is starting to feel like he’s losing the game. Desperate for an edge, he goes to Arkham State Hospital to consult with someone who understands the mind of a serial killer.
Enter Barry Keoghan.
We don't see him clearly at first. The camera stays behind him, or keeps him blurred, revealing only patches of scarred skin and tufts of patchy green hair. He’s not "The Joker" yet—at least, he hasn't taken the name. Reeves refers to him as a proto-Joker.
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The dialogue that changed everything
The interaction is fascinating because it’s not just about the Riddler. It’s a verbal autopsy of Batman himself. The Joker looks at the files Batman brings and starts laughing. He tells Batman that the Riddler is a "nobody who wants to be a somebody." But then he turns the knife.
He looks at Pattinson and says: "I think somewhere deep down, you're just terrified... because you're not sure he's wrong."
That line is the heart of the The Batman deleted Arkham scene. It forces Batman (and the audience) to realize that the Riddler’s crusade against the corrupt elite of Gotham isn't entirely baseless. It’s just his methods that are insane. By having the Joker point this out, the scene highlights the thin line Bruce Wayne is walking.
Why did Matt Reeves delete the scene?
It seems crazy to cut a performance that good, right? Especially when Barry Keoghan spent six hours in a makeup chair for a scene that didn't even make the theatrical release. But Reeves had his reasons, and they actually make a lot of sense if you look at the movie’s pacing.
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- Pacing and Length: The Batman is already a three-hour epic. Adding another five-minute dialogue-heavy scene in the middle of the second act could have slowed the momentum.
- The Riddler's Spotlight: Reeves wanted the focus to remain squarely on Paul Dano’s Riddler. He feared that introducing the Joker too early would "steal the thunder" from the main antagonist.
- Redundancy: In the final cut, Batman eventually reaches the conclusion that he and the Riddler are two sides of the same coin on his own. The deleted scene spelled it out too explicitly, too early.
Interestingly, Reeves did keep the very final scene where the Joker befriends the Riddler in Arkham. He found that test audiences felt more satisfied knowing that "trouble was still brewing" in Gotham, even if the Riddler was caught.
The "Congenital Disease" and the new look
One of the biggest talking points regarding the The Batman deleted Arkham scene is the Joker’s physical appearance. This isn't the "fell in a vat of acid" Joker or the "I got these scars from my father" Joker.
Matt Reeves has explained that this version of the character was born with a congenital disease that prevents him from ever stopping smiling. It’s a permanent, biological rictus. Reeves drew inspiration from Conrad Veidt in The Man Who Laughs (1928) and David Lynch’s The Elephant Man.
A life of being a "joke"
This backstory adds a tragic, nihilistic layer to the character. If you’ve spent your entire life being looked at as a monster because of a smile you can’t control, eventually, you’re going to treat the world like one big, cruel joke. This Joker didn't choose the chaos; the chaos was born into him.
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- The Hair: It's thin and matted, looking like it was bleached and dyed in a prison sink.
- The Skin: He’s covered in what looks like chemical burns and boils, though the origin of those specific marks remains a mystery for now.
- The Hands: If you watch the deleted clip closely, his fingernails are bloodied and raw, suggesting he’s been picking at his own skin in his cell.
How to watch the scene today
While it wasn't in the theaters, the The Batman deleted Arkham scene is now widely available. Warner Bros. initially released it as a reward for fans who solved three riddles on the viral "Rataalada" website.
You can find the full 4K version on the official Warner Bros. YouTube channel or as a bonus feature on the Blu-ray and 4K UHD releases of the film. It's titled "Arkham Deleted Scene" and it’s well worth the five minutes of your time.
What this means for The Batman Part II
We know a sequel is coming. We know the Penguin is getting (or has) his own show. But will Barry Keoghan be the main villain?
Honestly, probably not. Reeves has been very vocal about the fact that the Arkham scene wasn't meant to be an "Easter egg" for the next movie. It was meant to build the world. He wanted to show that Gotham is already populated with these rogues, even if they aren't the main threat yet.
However, you don't cast an actor of Keoghan’s caliber and design a makeup look that intricate just for a YouTube clip. While the sequel might focus on the Court of Owls or Clayface (as rumors suggest), the Joker is clearly lurking in the background of this universe, waiting for his "anniversary" with the Bat.
Actionable Insights for Fans
- Watch the hands: Pay close attention to Keoghan's hands in the scene; they tell a story of self-mutilation that the dialogue doesn't cover.
- Listen to the laugh: It’s less of a "HA-HA" and more of a wheezing, painful sound, reflecting his biological condition.
- Check out the Rataalada archives: There are still many clues hidden in the promotional materials for the film that hint at the "unseen prisoner's" history with Batman during "Year One."
The best way to appreciate the craftsmanship behind this deleted scene is to watch it immediately after the scene where Batman visits the morgue to see Commissioner Savage. That's where it was originally intended to sit, and it changes the entire vibe of the movie's middle act.