In early December, trades confirmed a report by Nexus Point News that Scarlett Johansson was set to join the cast of the long-awaited sequel to 2022’s The Batman. As further details about the character emerged, fans began to theorize that Johansson would be portraying The Phantasm, an original character created Alan Burnett and Paul Dini for the 1993 animated film Batman: Mask of the Phantasm. As exciting as that idea was, it turns out it may not be the case.
According to a new report from longtime industry scoopster Jeff “The In” Sneider–who first reported that Johansson would be a love interest for Robert Pattinson‘s Bruce Wayne before being revealed as a baddie–ScarJo will be playing a different femme fatale in The Batman-Part II.
Sneider’s latest claim is that Johansson will be playing Gilda Gold, aka Gilda Dent.
Gilda is most famous for her role in Jeoh Loeb’s seminal graphic novel The Long Halloween (which heavily influenced Matt Reeves’ first film). In a shocking twist at the end of that story, it is implied (and confessed by her) that she was the original “Holiday” killer. She is a tragic figure, deeply in love with Harvey but constantly terrified of his dangerous work fighting the mob. In The Long Halloween, she secretly murdered gangsters on holidays to thin out the mob’s ranks. Her goal was not power, but to lighten Harvey’s caseload so he could finally retire, and they could start a family.
Matt Reeves’ Gotham is grounded, noir-heavy, and focused on detective work. Gilda Gold fits this world perfectly while also allowing for the introduction of Harvey Dent into the Batman Epic Crime Saga. If the sequel leans into the noir genre, as most expect it will, Gilda could play the classic femme fatale—a mysterious woman from Harvey’s past or a socialite with deep secrets who draws Bruce Wayne and Harvey Dent into a conflict and, ultimately, serve as a tragic catalyst for the rise of Two-Face.
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