If you stayed until the very end of Matt Reeves' 2022 noir epic, you saw him. Or, well, you saw a blurry, scarred silhouette through the reinforced glass of an Arkham State Hospital cell. He didn't have the purple suit yet. He didn't even have the name. But that high-pitched, rattling laugh was unmistakable. Since then, the internet hasn't stopped asking who's playing the joker in the batman, and the answer is a young actor named Barry Keoghan.
He’s the guy from The Banshees of Inisherin and Saltburn. He’s not exactly a stranger to playing "weird," but taking on the Clown Prince of Crime is a different beast entirely. It’s a role that carries the weight of Jack Nicholson, Heath Ledger, and Joaquin Phoenix. Honestly, it’s a lot of pressure for a guy who only appeared on screen for about five minutes in the theatrical cut.
The man behind the scars: Barry Keoghan's take
Barry Keoghan is the official answer to the mystery of who's playing the joker in the batman. But his journey to the role wasn't exactly a straight line. Keoghan actually originally auditioned for the role of The Riddler. He sent in a self-tape that was, by all accounts, incredibly creepy and stylized, featuring him walking out of an elevator in a bowler hat with a cane. Paul Dano eventually got the Riddler gig, but Matt Reeves couldn't shake Keoghan’s energy.
Reeves saw something in him. He saw a version of the Joker that wasn't just a clown, but a "proto-Joker." This version of the character has a congenital disease. He’s been smiling since birth. It’s not a choice; it’s a biological curse. This shift changes everything. It’s not a man falling into a vat of chemicals. It's a man who has been mocked by the world for his physical appearance since the day he was born.
The makeup is horrifying. If you watch the deleted scene—which you absolutely should—you'll see the back of his head is missing chunks of hair. His hands are raw and bloody. He looks more like something out of a Cronenberg body-horror flick than a comic book. Keoghan plays him with this heavy, labored breathing. It feels claustrophobic.
That deleted scene tells the whole story
Most people only saw the theatrical ending where Joker chats with the Riddler. However, the real meat of the performance is in a five-minute deleted scene where Robert Pattinson’s Batman actually visits Joker for help. It’s very Silence of the Lambs.
Batman is desperate. He can’t figure out the Riddler’s motive, so he goes to the only other person who thinks that way. This tells us something crucial about the timeline: Batman and Joker already have a history. This isn't their first meeting. Batman caught him during "Year One" of his crusade.
When you look at who's playing the joker in the batman, you have to look at how Keoghan interacts with Pattinson. He’s taunting him. He tells Batman that he actually agrees with the Riddler. He gets under Bruce Wayne's skin in a way that feels deeply personal. It’s a psychological game, and Keoghan wins it without even leaving his chair.
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Why this Joker feels different
We’ve had the anarchist Ledger. We’ve had the flamboyant Nicholson. We’ve had the tragic Arthur Fleck.
Keoghan’s Joker is "The Invisible Man." He’s the guy everyone ignores until he does something too violent to overlook. Matt Reeves has been very clear that this Joker isn't the finished product yet. He’s a work in progress.
The prosthetic work took six hours to apply. Think about that. Six hours in a chair just to play a character who is mostly out of focus. That’s commitment to a vision of "grotesque realism." The skin is translucent in places. You can see the veins. It’s grounded, but in a way that feels nightmare-adjacent.
Will he be the main villain in The Batman Part II?
This is the big question. Everyone wants to know if the guy who's playing the joker in the batman is going to be the central antagonist in the sequel, which is currently slated for a 2026 release.
Matt Reeves is playing his cards close to his chest. He’s hinted that the sequel will continue to explore the "corrupt soul" of Gotham, but he’s also said that the Joker might not be the main focus yet. There are rumors about Clayface. There are whispers about Mr. Freeze or the Court of Owls.
It’s possible Joker remains a Hannibal Lecter-style figure—someone who exists in the periphery, pulling strings from inside Arkham. Or maybe he escapes. The ending of the first film showed a city underwater and in chaos. That’s a playground for someone like the Joker.
The Keoghan factor and the future of the DCU
There’s also the "James Gunn" factor to consider. With the DC Universe being rebooted, many wondered if The Batman would survive. It has. It’s now officially under the "DC Elseworlds" banner. This means Keoghan doesn't have to worry about what’s happening in the Superman movies. He gets to exist in his own dark, rainy bubble.
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Keoghan himself has been coy in interviews. He’s expressed a massive desire to return to the role, noting that he’s already developed a deep backstory for the character's physical tics. He wants to explore the "human" side of the monster.
He’s a busy actor, though. Since The Batman came out, his star has exploded. He’s now an Oscar nominee. He’s a leading man. This might make scheduling difficult, but it also makes his version of the Joker even more high-profile.
Sorting through the rumors
You’ve probably seen the clickbait. "Joker to lead his own spin-off series!" or "Barry Keoghan replaced!"
Ignore it.
As of right now, Barry Keoghan remains the actor who's playing the joker in the batman universe. There is no evidence he’s being recast. In fact, most industry insiders suggest his role will only expand as the trilogy progresses.
Some fans were annoyed that the Joker was included at all. They felt it was "too soon" after Phoenix and Ledger. But the dynamic in the deleted scene proved that this isn't just a rehash. It’s a study of two broken people—Batman and Joker—who are more alike than Bruce Wayne wants to admit.
The movie treats the Joker like a disease. He’s something Gotham "caught" because it’s so sick.
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How to stay updated on the sequel
The production for The Batman Part II has faced some delays, largely due to the industry-wide strikes in 2023. This pushed the release date back. However, filming is expected to begin in early 2025.
If you want the real scoop on what’s happening with the Joker, keep an eye on official casting calls and trade publications like The Hollywood Reporter or Variety. Avoid the "leaks" on X (formerly Twitter) that claim to have the entire script. Most of those are just fan fiction.
What we do know is that Robert Pattinson is back. Matt Reeves is directing. And the shadowy figure in the cell is waiting for his moment.
To prep for the next chapter, go back and watch the five-minute deleted "Arkham" scene on YouTube. Pay attention to the way Keoghan uses his voice. It’s a raspy, damaged sound. It’s the sound of someone who has been screaming or laughing for years with no one to listen.
Watch for the subtle movement of his hands. Even though they are blurred, you can see the restlessness. That’s the core of this Joker—an engine of chaos that never stops idling. Whether he’s the lead in the next film or just a recurring nightmare, Barry Keoghan has already made the role his own.
Actionable insights for fans
- Watch the deleted scene: If you've only seen the movie, you've missed 90% of the performance. Search for "The Batman Joker Deleted Scene" to see the full interaction.
- Track "Elseworlds" news: Since this Joker isn't part of the main DCU, look specifically for news regarding Matt Reeves' "Bat-verse" rather than general DC movie updates.
- Follow the actor: Barry Keoghan is active on social media and often does deep-dive interviews with magazines like GQ where he drops hints about his process and upcoming projects.
- Don't expect a traditional Joker: This version is based on "Gwynplaine" from The Man Who Laughs, focusing on physical deformity and societal rejection rather than "clown" gimmicks.
The mystery of who's playing the joker in the batman is solved, but the story of this specific Joker is just getting started. Gotham is still flooded, the power vacuum is real, and the man with the permanent smile is sitting right where he wants to be.