New videos and photographs captured on the London set of "The Batman: Part II" are fueling speculation about the film's antagonists, particularly the long-rumored Court of Owls. The footage shows Robert Pattinson's Bruce Wayne being escorted by police through a crowd of angry protestors.
These set images depict Bruce Wayne exiting the Gotham Bar Association building, protected by the GCPD, as he makes his way to a waiting Bentley. Andy Serkis, reprising his role as Alfred Pennyworth, was reportedly represented by a double on set, as Serkis is currently busy directing and starring in "The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum." Jeffrey Wright was also seen on set as Jim Gordon.
The protestors' signs offer the first significant clue, bearing slogans such as "Court of Oligarchs," "Court of Fouls," "The Richer Get Richer," and "Eat the Rich." These messages highlight a growing discontent among Gotham's populace against its wealthy elite, aligning with the themes associated with the Court of Owls, a secretive society of Gotham's founding families in DC Comics.
Adding another layer of intrigue, some protestors are depicted wearing white masks that obscure their faces. One individual in particular sports a white anarchy symbol on his jacket, a visual reminiscent of the villain Anarky. In DC Comics lore, Anarky, also known as Lonnie Machin, is a politically motivated adversary of Batman who advocates for social justice through direct action against corrupt institutions. While Anarky has appeared in other media, he has yet to feature in a live-action Batman film.
Director Matt Reeves has previously stated that the villain for "The Batman: Part II" is a character who "has never really been done in a movie before," leaving the identity of the main antagonist open to interpretation. The presence of both Court of Owls imagery and potentially Anarky-inspired elements could suggest a complex narrative exploring Gotham's systemic corruption and the varying responses to it. The irony is noted that protestors, while angered by the city's wealthy elite like Bruce Wayne, simultaneously embrace Batman as a symbol of resistance.