After his time as the Winter Soldier in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it’s time for Sebastian Stan to get ready to walk into the dark, complicated world of Gotham City. The famous face of the actor, best known for his portrayal of Bucky Barnes, will soon make its appearance in the much-anticipated sequel The Batman: Part II where he will portray one of Batman’s most tragic and iconic villains, Two Face. This casting is Stan’s first real shot at working with the DC Universe, and he is definitely taking the opportunity with some excitement and anxiety. In the midst of the promotion of his recent film Fjord, which won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, Stan has revealed what fans can expect from him as a Harvey Dent; the idealistic district attorney whose life turns for the worse.
To make his character in the next movie look like one of his old ones, Stan teased that he will not only have to play the same type of character but two of them. He said that it will be a multi faceted character in this, and in that the sequel will delve into other aspects of Harvey Dent’s personality, as the charismatic public servant and the broken down, vengeful criminal. This allows Stan to demonstrate a broader spectrum of emotions, which he hasn’t always been given the chance to do in an action-packed superhero movie. The actor, who has long been a part of the Marvel universe, is now being pushed to his limits as he takes on a character that’s defined by internal struggle and physical metamorph. He admitted that he was feeling the truth of the situation, stating he was excited, nervous and trying to keep himself surprised. It’s his self awareness that makes his casting feel fresh instead of simply being another franchise crossover.
Shot from a narrative standpoint, it’s a good idea that director Matt Reeves is focusing on Harvey Dent’s descent into madness; he’s the one to come back from The Batman (2022), which was both a critical and commercial success. The first film created a noir-inspired version of Gotham, and its sequel could further explore that world by adding a character who symbolizes the “borderline between justice and revenge. Early reports indicated that The Batman: Part II will likely depict how Dent transformed from the friendly district attorney into Two Face following an attack from underworld criminal Sal Boss Maroni who splashes acid in Dent’s face, leaving one half of his head permanently disfigured. At the right moment and executed correctly on the big screen, that moment could be one of the most heart wrenching scenes in contemporary superhero cinema. Not only the makeup or the special effects – it is watching a real good man lose everything – even his reflection.
The reason this interpretation might be different from earlier, such as the film The Dark Knight which starred Aaron Eckhart, is because they reported that they were focused on the life of Harvey before the tragedy. Reports suggest that The Batman Part II will delve deeper into Harvey Dent’s backstory, shedding light on his relationship with his father and his marriage. Charles Dance, who is believed to be one of the original GoT cast members, is also rumoured for Dent’s dad Christopher, and Scarlett Johansson is thought to be casting for Dent’s wife Gilda. Assuming these are accurate, the movie might be a far more revealing portrait of the pressures of family and the personal loss that ultimately undermines a man who seemed to be all things to all people. The kind of character work that suits Matt Reeves’ plans for psychological realism in superhero films is an ideal fit for the tale at hand.
The sequel, of course, will have Bruce Wayne’s own story, too. Robert Pattinson is back as the Caped Crusader and fans have been enjoying the hype that’s already been created around him on social media. Pattinson’s stunt double, along with Gotham City Police Department cars, were seen shooting footage inside Liverpool’s Birkenhead Tunnel. The actor has been seen in London as filming gets into its stride. The production process of the film is now making good progress on the set, and the rumour mill on location indicates Reeves is returning to the practical location and “lived in” look, rather than green screen sets.
Given Sebastian Stan’s appearance, fans of both major comic book universes ask themselves whether he does not appear to be the same character. He’s one of the last actors to have been a buzzy main cast member of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and also a significant main cast member of a DC film — in both of the franchises’ current eras. Unlike actors such as Michael Keaton (Batman followed by Vulture) they were separated by years, not decades. Stan is going to take the leap in real time and that is a certain weight of expectation. It might be difficult for some to distinguish him from Bucky Barnes, but that’s precisely what Stan seems to be searching for. He wants to come as a shock to himself, and perhaps he is also coming as a shock to his audiences.
However, as excitement grows there are a few things to keep in mind. The strength of an actor like Stan to take on such an emotionally and physically heavy role, though, could help The Batman Part II rise above the typical sequel pattern. Matt Reeves has already demonstrated his ability to maintain a moody ambiance, while still crafting strong character development. The inclusion of a tragic character like Harvey Dent, who’d clearly had some experience in long form character arcs as a Marvel hero, seems like a great fit. There is also a risk, however. Two Face is a character that has appeared in the past and the acid attack origin story is classic, but can be clichéd if not done right. Another challenge that the film faces is the balance of characters, as Bruce Wayne, Harvey and potentially other villains all have their own story to tell, meaning there is more than a chance that the film will feel like it is trying to cram too much into a single 120-minute runtime. So far, public opinion is somewhat hopeful. Fans have taken this with a grain of salt, to be sure, but also with a pinch of curiosity, as Stan has a history of landing some cool jobs outside of Marvel, including an acclaimed A Different Man and a transformative Pam and Tommy.
