• The Batman Part II's first image has been revealed
• Director Matt Reeves has uploaded a behind-the-scenes shot to social media
• DC fans think it's hinting at who the movie's villain will be

It's been a long road to The Batman Part II, but filming is finally set to begin on the long-awaited DC comic book movie.

With the cameras set to start rolling in the very near future, director Matt Reeves has further stoked fan excitement for The Batman Part II's release in October 2027. Indeed, taking to X/Twitter yesterday (May 7), Reeves revealed the first behind-the-scenes images for The Batman's sequel — check them out below:

The images, which have been snapped by someone — presumably Reeves himself — watching back footage on a monitor, show the Batmobile being driven along a Gotham City highway in wintry conditions.

So, the DC film has actually started shooting, then? No. Responding to a fan on X/Twitter, Reeves said these were simply test shots to determine camera angle and positioning ahead of capturing the real thing when principal photography begins.

When will that be? The Batman 2's shooting schedule was expected to start in early 2026, but was soon pushed back to mid-2026. With less than 18 months to go until it's set to stealth its way into theaters worldwide, it's high time things kicked into gear.

Is Mr. Freeze going to be The Batman 2's main villain?

Predictably, this peek behind the curtain has whipped fans into a frenzy over who its primary antagonist could be.

Indeed, with a snow-filled Gotham set to act as the backdrop to the Robert Pattinson-led flick, DC devotees have put two and two together, and convinced themselves that Mr. Freeze will be its Big Bad. Just look at some of those who've replied to Reeves' tweet, or commented on threads on the DC Cinematic sub-Reddit and Batman sub-Reddit, for proof of that.

Curiously, Reeves has discussed the possibility of including Mr. Freeze, real name Victor Fries, in The Batman 2.

Speaking at a press event for The Batman in early 2022 (per Collider), Reeves admitted that there could be a way to introduce a more realistic take on the fantastical icy antagonist in his grounded Batman universe. Reeves even referenced 'Heart of Ice', a fan-favorite episode from Batman: The Animated Series that repositioned Freeze as a tragic figure rather than an outright villain, could serve as the inspiration for any Fries-involved narrative.

The big question now is: will Mr. Freeze be the primary foe that Pattinson's Dark Knight faces off against?

I'm not so sure. Reeves' aforementioned comments were made four years ago and, while he's clearly a fan of 'Heart of Ice', there's absolutely no indication that The Batman 2 will include him.

"But, what about the snowfall in those photos?", I hear you ask. There are plenty of comic book stories starring the Caped Crusader amid frosty conditions that don't include Freeze, so those pictures don't guarantee that he's part of proceedings.

On top of that, speculation abounds that Marvel stalwart Sebastian Stan will play Harvey Dent/Two-Face in The Batman Part II. If true, Dent could be the movie's main villain, especially if, like its forebear, The Batman 2 explores the intersection of extreme wealth, white privilege, and systemic corruption — themes have been examined through Dent, Batman, and the latter's civilian alter-ego Bruce Wayne on the page and screen for decades.

Throw in rumors that The Court of Owls might be the chief antagonists of one of next year's most exciting new movies, the possible return of Barry Keoghan's Joker, and myriad other members of Bats' rogues gallery who could show up, and Mr. Freeze could continue to be *ahem* left out in the cold. If he is, the wait for his next big-screen appearance following 1997's Batman & Robin will go on.

For more on Reeves' next feature film, find out everything we know so far about The Batman Part II.

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As TechRadar's senior entertainment reporter, Tom covers all of the latest movies, TV shows, and streaming service news that you need to know about. You'll regularly find him writing about the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Wars, Netflix, Prime Video, Disney Plus, and many other topics of interest.

An NCTJ-accredited journalist, Tom also writes reviews, analytical articles, opinion pieces, and interview-led features on the biggest franchises, actors, directors and other industry leaders. You may see his quotes pop up in the odd official Marvel Studios video, too, such as this Moon Knight TV spot.