EXCLUSIVE: After spending almost a decade defending the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Black Widow, the bat signal may be calling Scarlett Johansson, DC Studios’ latest chapter in The Batman series. While it is unknown where things stand in the dealmaking process, sources tell Deadline that the Oscar-nominated Johansson is in final negotiations with the studio and director Matt Reeves for one of the new roles in The Batman Part II. If a deal closes, she would join Robert Pattinson, who is set to reprise his role as the Caped Crusader in the upcoming sequel that Reeves is writing and directing.
DC Studios had no comment.
Johansson has been busy getting her affairs in order for her 2026 shooting schedule, most recently coming on to star in a new Exorcist film for Blumhouse and director Mike Flanagan. Deadline was the first to break that news; at the time, insiders said her team at CAA was working out how she would be able to do both, and insiders now say that schedule has been settled.
When it comes to plot details and who Johansson might be playing, the film’s secrets are harder to uncover then Bruce Wayne’s Batcave. The Warner Bros-DC Studios pic is set to start production in the spring and will open in theaters on October 1, 2027.
Reeves’ The Batman was the first fire-breathing theatrical release for Warner Bros post-Covid after implementing a day-and-date release strategy on HBO Max. The movie starring Pattinson and Zoë Kravitz grossed $369.3 million at the domestic box office and $772M worldwide.
With her days in the MCU behind her, Johansson has been busy setting up multiple franchises that will keep her busy for the foreseeable future. Besides The Exorcist and The Batman Part II, she recently helped relaunched the Jurassic World franchise with Jurassic World: Rebirth. That film, which hit theaters in July, went on to gross $868M worldwide and has a sequel in the works.
Johansson recently made her directorial debut with the Sony Pictures Classics drama Eleanor the Great, which world premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. Next up she can be seen in the James Gray pic Paper Tiger opposite Miles Teller and Adam Driver.
Besides CAA, Johansson is also repped by Yorn Levine LLC.
