The Batman 2022: Is Barry Keoghan playing The Joker?

However, Bruce faces one of his most deadly adversaries yet in the form of a serial killer targeting citizens of Gotham City.

This villain, who leaves puzzles and clues in his wake, is known as The Riddler (Paul Dano)...

Along the way in his journey, Batman will come across nightclub worker and cat burglar Selina Kyle (Zoe Kravitz), influential gangster Carmine Falcone (John Turturro), and the Penguin himself, Oswald "Oz" Cobblepot (Colin Farrell).

The Batman cast also includes Jeffrey Wright as police officer Lieutenant James Gordon, Peter Sarsgaard as corrupt district attorney Gil Colson, Jayme Lawson as mayoral candidate Bella Real, and Andy Serkis as Batman’s loyal butler Alfred Pennyworth.

However, there is one additional cast member who is creating much chatter.

Eternals star Barry Keoghan features in the films, but who exactly is he playing? Could he be playing The Joker?

In the meantime, for your guide to all of the Batman movies and how to watch in order see our explainer here.

**Spoiler warning for The Batman**

Is Barry Keoghan playing The Joker in The Batman 2022?

Well, yes, Barry Keoghan is portraying The Joker.

Despite initial reports that Keoghan would be playing Gotham City Police Department officer Stanley Merkel in the film, the Irish actor only appears in one scene towards the end of the film.

The character that Keoghan portrays is credited as 'Unnamed Arkham Inmate' but his maniacal laugh, discoloured hair and general encouragement of chaos towards The Riddler/Edward Nashton in the closing scene in Arkham Asylum leaves little doubt about who the character is.

The inmate's appearance is mostly obscured as he is viewed through a peephole in his cell door but what we can see certainly resembles the iconic character known as the Clown Prince of Crime.

The character had been due to appear more in the film too, according to director Matt Reeves.

Speaking to IGN, Reeves revealed that The Batman would have gone to the Joker at Arkham for aid in profiling the Riddler in a scene that was cut from the film but will release at some point.

Comparing the scene to the iconic visits of Clarice Starling to Hannibal Lecter in Silence of the Lambs, Reeves revealed: "He goes to see another killer that he's clearly had an experience with in these first two years. And this killer in this story is not yet the character that we come to know, right?”

"So everybody's in their infancy. So in the comics, these characters often declare their alter egos in response to the fact that there's a Batman out there. And so here, we have a Joker who's not yet the Joker."

Perhaps we have a villain for the proposed sequels to The Batman already in our midst?

Reeves hinted that this is only the early days of the character and while he may not be the focus of a follow-up he would likely appear.

He's also apparently not fallen into a vat of chemicals or is scarred like the Joker in The Dark Knight (2008), but instead is suffering from a "congenital disease" and can't stop smiling.

Prior to the film's release, The Hollywood Reporter addressed internet rumours that Barry Keoghan could be playing The Joker in the film.

They penned on their newsletter on 11th December: “Last month, the internet went a little crazy about Barry Keoghan maybe, maybe not, playing the Joker in Matt Reeves’ upcoming The Batman.

“Don’t look to us to answers on that one. But we can tell you this: Multiple sources tell us that Warner Bros has been testing two different cuts of The Batman, one with a certain actor, one without. And the final test screening occurred last week, with the decision now made as to which version the studio likes, says one source.”

Keoghan is also known for his role as Druig in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the film Eternals.

Recent portrayals of The Joker have included Joaquin Phoenix in Joker and Jared Leto in Suicide Squad and Zack Snyder's Justice League.

• Read More: The Batman review: A terrific mood piece, an underwhelming mystery
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• Read more: Where was The Batman filmed?
• Read more: The Batman ending explained
• Read more: The Batman's Andy Serkis: ‘I was Alfred by day, and made Venom by night’
• Read more: The Batman soundtrack - full list of music in DC Comics film

The Batman is out now in cinemas.

While you’re waiting, check out more of our Sci-Fi and Fantasy coverage, or visit our TV Guide to see what’s on tonight.

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