'The Batman' Director Matt Reeves Reveals Identity of Arkham Prisoner

Although we were expected to be introduced to new takes on Catwoman, The Riddler and Penguin, The Batman also featured a brief cameo from one of the Caped Crusader's most notorious Rogues Gallery villains.

Director Matt Reeves recently sat down with IGN to discuss an appearance made in the second last scene of the recently released film starring Robert Pattinson as Batman. Paul Dano's Riddler character is seen locked up in Arkham Asylum and strikes up a conversation with a neighboring prisoner. Played by Barry Keoghan, the "Unnamed Arkham Inmate" that cackles and brings up clowns is indeed The Batman universe's Joker.

Reeves revealed that the Joker was originally set to have a bigger part in the movie. A cut scene was to show Batman meeting with Keoghan's character, who he had captured in his early years, to delve into the psyche of a killer. Inspired by the 1928 silent film The Man Who Laughs, the Joker character is explained to have a congenital disease that gives him a permanent smile.

Although Reeves did not confirm if the Joker would be in a sequel, he notes that the character's appearance was used to convey a sense of impending danger in Gotham City. Adding how they had to shoot fake scenes with Barry Keoghan as a cop named "Stanley Merkel" to throw fans off speculation and maintain a surprise.

Catch Matt Reeves' interview with IGN above.

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