It's clear that Gotham City still has plenty of problems for Batman to deal with in The Batman Part II, but the Dark Knight may have a much bigger challenge in the upcoming sequel: the people he's trying to protect.
As filming continues on Matt Reeves' highly anticipated sequel, a steady stream of set photos and videos has offered us intriguing glimpses at what's in store for Robert Pattinson's Bruce Wayne. From the GCPD hunting down the Batmobile to the billionaire being escorted through a crowd of angry protesters, Gotham has grown increasingly hostile.
There's also been a potentially major development involving the Court of Owls, while another leaked sequence seemingly shows Bruce fighting for his life after being pulled from the water. None of these leaked set photos provide the full context, of course, but together, they paint a fascinating picture of a sequel that will push Bruce further than ever before.
With that in mind, here are five of the biggest things we've learned from The Batman Part II's set photos...
5. Gotham City Hates Bruce Wayne
Protesters in Gotham City have no love for billionaire Bruce Wayne, confirming that the reclusive billionaire is by no means a well-liked philanthropist and playboy in the world filmmaker Matt Reeves has created.
Gotham's poorest citizens have clearly had more than enough of the rich holding all the power while they struggle. The events of The Batman, which saw one of the city's most destitute areas flooded, have likely made matters worse.
While Batman operates in the shadows, could this vitriol—"Your Greed is Killing Us," "Oligarchs Gotta Go"—force Bruce to finally step into the light to protect and build up his home as a public figure? Fighting crime can only do so much, after all.
4. Batman vs. The GCPD
Despite Jim Gordon's protestations, we saw the Gotham City Police Department clash with the Dark Knight in The Batman. However, even after he very publicly worked to save all those people from drowning, it seems Batman remains public enemy #1 with the cops.
The vigilante has been spotted being pursued by the police while tearing through Gotham in the Batmobile, ultimately making his getaway on a GCPD motorcycle (a SWAT team is also in hot pursuit).
Interestingly, a blonde woman appeared to be in the Batmobile's passenger seat, meaning she could be the one the cops are after. The prevailing theory is that it's Scarlett Johansson's character, though there's still no word on who the Avengers: Endgame star is playing.
3. The Batmobile Destroyed
We've only seen snippets of Batman's clash with the police, but with cop cars, a helicopter, and a SWAT team chasing him down, the action-packed sequence concludes with the violent destruction of the Batmobile.
On the one hand, this is a good excuse to introduce a new version of the Caped Crusader's iconic vehicle. On the other hand, it emphasises how high the stakes are in this sequel. Not even Batman can fight an entire police force. Can he?
The Batman was shot in the closing months of the pandemic, meaning COVID protocols had to be followed on set. Without that to worry about, it looks like Reeves is free to up the ante and deliver a much bigger movie with The Batman Part II.
2. Bruce Wayne, Dead?
On a snowy Gotham harbour, Alfred Pennyworth attempts to resuscitate an unconscious Bruce Wayne. The billionaire's hands appear to be tied together, suggesting he's been fished out of the water after facing a deadly, currently unidentified foe.
Interestingly, the blonde woman—and a young boy—have been spotted watching on, leading to theories that we could be looking at everyone from Dick Grayson to Damian Wayne (remember, there have been persistent rumours about Robin appearing in The Batman Part II).
This is one of the biggest spoilers from the set, but out of context, it's hard to say for sure what's happening. Still, things look bleak for Bruce in a movie that looks set to push him to his limits like never before on screen.
1. The Court Of Owls And A New Batsuit
Batman's Batsuit has received a few tweaks since we last saw it, with longer ears on the cowl and a slightly sleeker design. Beyond that, the changes appear minimal, and this is by no means a whole new costume for the iconic superhero.
The bigger talking point is the apparent confirmation that The Court of Owls will factor into The Batman Part II. One of the protesters mentioned above was spotted holding a sign that read "Court of Fowls," suggesting Gotham's citizens are aware of the group and actively protesting it.
The Court of Owls being like the Freemasons, for example, makes sense, and the sequel could still reveal that not all is as it seems with them. And what if the protests against Gotham's elite and the Court of Owls are somehow connected?