Scarlett Johansson is offering the first glimpse into her preparation for The Batman Part II, admitting that her closely guarded character pushed her outside of her creative comfort zone. Speaking with Entertainment Tonight while promoting her upcoming feature Paper Tiger, the actress revealed that stepping into Gotham City for the Warner Bros. and DC Studios sequel was a demanding experience that gave her "a lot of existential angst." While studio executives and filmmakers have kept her specific character identity under wraps since her casting was announced in May, Johansson's remarks highlight the psychological complexity awaiting audiences when the Robert Pattinson-led sequel arrives in theaters in February 2028.

The confession arrived when Johansson was asked to compare her upcoming big-screen commitments—specifically weighing her work in Mike Flanagan's The Exorcist: Martyrs against Matt Reeves' Batman follow-up—to determine which project challenged her the most.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Johansson pointed directly to the DC Studios production as the toughest assignment on her recent slate.

A Role That Was 'Hard to Crack'

Despite spending over a decade anchoring global blockbusters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and leading the Jurassic World franchise, Johansson found herself in unfamiliar territory when approaching the script for The Batman Part II. She explained during the interview that the preparation process required intense internal work, though she stopped short of providing plot details that might spoil the mystery.

"Probably the role in The Batman, because it gave me a lot of existential angst, for some reason," Johansson said, as reported by Variety. "It was very hard to figure out. I don't know why, whether it was just the role or it was just where I am in my life, or what's going on, but it was just hard to crack it.

And that's all I can say about it. It was a tough role in a lot of ways."

Her comments echo recent sentiments from leading man Robert Pattinson, who returns to the title role after headlining the original 2022 crime saga. According to IGN, Pattinson recently praised the sequel for possessing "an understanding of Bruce Wayne and Batman's psychology" that he does not think audiences have seen on screen before. Reeves previously stated that while the 2022 film leaned heavily into the vigilante's masked persona and early origins, the follow-up aims to keep Pattinson's Bruce Wayne at the emotional center of the narrative while expanding the city's wider rogues gallery.

Conflicting Reports on Johansson's Gotham Alter Ego

Because neither DC Studios nor Reeves has officially named Johansson's character, her description of an angst-ridden, hard-to-decipher persona has fueled intense industry speculation.

When Reeves confirmed her casting in May, he shared a cryptic post on X featuring a GIF of Johansson looking into a car's rearview mirror from her 2013 science-fiction film Under the Skin, offering no text or character name.

Industry trade publications currently differ on how concrete the rumors surrounding her part actually are. According to The Hollywood Reporter and Variety, Johansson's character remains officially undisclosed, alongside fellow franchise newcomers Sebastian Stan, Brian Tyree Henry, Charles Dance, and Sebastian Koch.

In contrast, Deadline reports that Johansson reportedly plays Gilda Dent, the wife of Gotham district attorney Harvey Dent, a role the outlet links to Sebastian Stan. Meanwhile, Gizmodo characterizes the Gilda Gold/Dent connection as a prevailing rumor, noting that in DC Comics lore, the character struggles with her husband's transformation into Two-Face and becomes the serial killer known as Holiday.

Other outlets, including Just Jared, note that fan theories have also pointed toward classic DC figures such as Poison Ivy or Andrea Beaumont, also known as the Phantasm. Returning cast members joining the newcomers include Colin Farrell, Andy Serkis, and Jeffrey Wright.

Production Shifts and Steven Soderbergh's Involvement

Johansson's reflections come during a unique transitional period for the physical production of The Batman Part II at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden in the United Kingdom. Following script completion—which DC Studios co-chief James Gunn confirmed in July—and early camera tests in May, cameras rolled on the sequel before encountering an unexpected pause in October.

According to DC Studios disclosures cited by The Hollywood Reporter, filming briefly halted in October after Reeves stepped away from the set to attend to an undisclosed family matter.

Later that month, Oscar-winning filmmaker Steven Soderbergh (Traffic, Ocean's Eleven) stepped in with the studio's backing to help Reeves complete the final stretch of principal photography.

While Variety notes that production is currently being led on the ground by Soderbergh during Reeves' temporary absence, IGN reports that Reeves will resume the directing reins once the project transitions into post-production. None of the coverage indicates that the October production pause or the temporary change in on-set supervision contributed to the creative challenges Johansson experienced while developing her role.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which character is Scarlett Johansson playing in The Batman Part II?

Her character has not been officially confirmed by DC Studios or director Matt Reeves. While Deadline states she reportedly plays Gilda Dent, other major entertainment outlets maintain that her role is officially undisclosed, with fan and media speculation ranging from Gilda Dent to Poison Ivy and Andrea Beaumont.

Why did Scarlett Johansson say the role caused her existential angst?

Johansson did not specify whether the difficulty stemmed from the character's psychological profile, the script, or her personal acting process. She stated only that the part was "very hard to figure out" and "hard to crack," wondering aloud if it was due to the nature of the role itself or simply where she is in her life.

When will The Batman Part II be released in theaters?

There is a minor discrepancy among entertainment outlets regarding the exact February release day, though the consensus points to mid-February 2028. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, and Deadline, the film is scheduled to open in United States theaters on February 18, 2028, while Gizmodo lists the release date as February 28, 2028.

Sources