Scarlett Johansson is in talks to join the cast of The Batman Part II, PEOPLE has confirmed.
The upcoming sequel will continue the story from the 2022 hit The Batman, directed by Matt Reeves and starring Robert Pattinson, 39, as Bruce Wayne/Batman. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Johansson is in “final negotiations” to board the project, though details of her character remain tightly under wraps.
Variety previously reported that Zoë Kravitz, who played Selina Kyle/Catwoman in the first film, is not expected to return for the sequel.
Johansson is no stranger to superhero universes. She played Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe for more than a decade, beginning with Iron Man 2 in 2010 and concluding with her standalone film Black Widow in 2021. An Oscar nominee for Marriage Story and Jojo Rabbit, she also served as an executive producer on Black Widow.
Reeves, 59, will write The Batman Part II alongside Mattson Tomlin. Warner Bros. announced in August that filming is set to begin in spring 2026. The studio has locked in an October 1, 2027, release date.
The Batman universe exists separately from James Gunn’s rebooted DC Universe, which includes David Corenswet’s Superman. The original film also starred Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth and Colin Farrell as Oswald Cobblepot/The Penguin — with Farrell later reprising the role in his HBO Max spinoff series, The Penguin.
Johansson was last seen in this summer’s blockbuster Jurassic World Rebirth and appeared in The Phoenician Scheme. She recently made her directorial debut with Eleanor the Great, starring June Squibb. Upcoming projects include Ray Gunn, Paper Tiger, and a new take on The Exorcist from filmmaker Mike Flanagan, set within the iconic horror franchise.
Representatives for DC Studios, Warner Bros., and Johansson have not yet commented on the casting discussions.