Update: The scene of Barry Keoghan as Joker in The Batman has been released. Watch it below.
The Batman spoilers!
Barry Keoghan can’t confirm it yet, but yes, that’s him as The Joker at the end of The Batman.
The 29-year-old Irish actor (it’s pronounced Key-Own, if you’re wondering) has quickly become one of Hollywood’s most sought after young stars, appearing as Druig in Marvel’s Eternals last year, and Martin McDonagh’s upcoming The Banshees of Inisherin opposite Colin Farrell later this year, and Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg’s upcoming war series Masters of The Air.
If you couldn’t tell, he’s beloved by the best filmmakers working today, with Matt Reeves being only the latest to capitalize on Keoghan’s unique talents.
Let’s recap quickly: In the second to last scene of The Batman, Paul Dano’s Riddler is sitting in his cell in Arkham Asylum, being spoken to by a man who speaks of ‘clowns’ and lets out an unmistakable cackle, a scene that points to the evolving future that Matt Reeves’ Batman world will have in the potential sequels, as each of Batman’s rogue’s gallery find their origin.
Matt Reeves has confirmed that yes, this is Joker, or rather, the man who will become Joker–a man who has been plagued by a a condition that forces him to smile uncontrollably since his birth, and has been driven mad as a result.
In addition, Reeves revealed to IGN that he filmed a second scene with Keoghan that was set to appear earlier in the film, but cut it as it didn’t fit. Reeves did promise, however, that the scene would be released in the future…
At this year’s Middle East Film and Comic Con, I caught up with Keoghan to talk his career ascent, and while he couldn’t confirm his role, we did discuss filming that scene with Paul Dano, working with Reeves, and more.
Read the full Barry Keoghan interview here:
All right, my man, what are we talking about?
We’re talking about you!
I’m sick of talking about me.
But you’re such a good actor man. From ’71, through Killing of a Sacred Deer, you turn in so many fantastic performances.
I appreciate when people can say stuff like that, when they when they’ve watched that kind of work, Sacred Deer and ’71. That’s someone that knows films, let alone me, but knows movie. You know what I mean? The independent stuff.
You’re one yourself. You choose your filmmakers very carefully.
Yeah, that’s true. I’ve been looking, well I wouldn’t say looking, but I’ve been blessed enough to come across great filmmakers and get a chance to get the opportunity or present myself to give them my version of a character like Yorgos [Lanthimos, Dir. Killing of a Sacred Deer], and Bart Layton [Dir. American Animals], and, and Chloe Zhao [Dir. Eternals’, just a ton of them that I’ve been blessed to get a chance to work with these collaborators as well.
Has it gotten to the point where these people are coming to you?
I wouldn’t stand here with a really big head and go, yes. No, I’m always going to be up against so and so. If I like a part, and this other actor likes a part, and I always bump into the same actors, because you find yourself in that category, so if he’s going for the part, you’re going for the part. Sometimes it falls to the director’s choice, and you don’t always get what you want.
Was entering the Marvel Cinematic Universe what you expected it to be? With the scale, the breadth of scope, the NDAs…
Yeah, that was all new to me. And, you know, the pressure that comes with it, it’s the pressure that you bring to it. Marvel doesn’t put any pressure on you, I’ll say that. And they’re very, very helpful and very welcoming. it’s like a family when you get on set and Kevin Feige is great. And I’m Victoria Alonso was great. And then Nate Moore as well. They’re all brilliant that they all make you feel at home because they understand the pressure that comes with a huge fanbase, that makes you create that pressure yourself. And the NDAs come with every movie now, the difference is the Marvel banner is just massive.
I know we can’t say out-loud the role that you’re playing in The Batman, but could tell me about Matt Reeves as a filmmaker?
He’s brilliant, man. And Matt Reeves and Dylan Clark especially and together were amazing to me– eally, really amazing to me. And, you know, getting to be part of the Batman universe is [a huge deal for me]. I’m a fanboy of these movies, and especially the Batman universe. So be to be in that world, I’m still pinching myself. He’s a filmmaker I hugely admire as well. And to get to walk alongside him and see how he works, and seeing much like Chloe Zhao, how comfortable he makes you on set, and he gives you the time you need and what you want. I’m in such a blessed position.
And to get to work alongside Colin Farrell again—I know I wasn’t with Colin in that scene, but that cast as well… Zoë, Rob, all of them.
How was working with Paul Dano in that scene?
Paul is–I’m a huge, huge fan of Paul. He’s such a good dude as well. I’ve watched all of his movies, like Prisoners and stuff like that. People say that we’re kind of like as well, and I’m like, are we?
There’s an energy.
Yeah, absolutely.
Was Matt Reeves a fan of Killing of a Sacred Deer?
I think so. Yeah, I think so. I hope so, yeah.
I know with Robert he was big on Good Time.
Yeah, of course, Good Time. He and Dylan Clark are amazing with that stuff.
Matt Reeves has said he was very much inspired for your character by The Man Who Laughs.
I can’t really go into that. All I can say it was a Joy to work with Matt and Dylan Clark on that movie. That’s all.
Matt also said there’s an extra scene that’s going to come out as well.
I want to see that as well.
You haven’t seen it yet?
No!
Can’t wait until he shares it then. Thank you.
Thank you, man.