Batman 2 has the opportunity to provide an improved live-action interpretation of a badly abused villain from the 2016 Suicide Squad.
Batman has managed to bring new shows of classic Batman villains to theaters and with fans already clamoring for a sequel, the next Robert Pattinson sequel has the perfect setting to fix the mistake of the previous Batman villain in Killer Croc. Kroc, whose real name is Waylon Jones, made his live-action debut in the critically acclaimed 2016 film, Suicide Squad, played by Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje. David Ayer's movie was too crowded with characters to give Killer Croc a proper introduction and his backstory was simplified into a few lines describing Croc as a monster. While Killer Croc has not returned to The Suicide Squad, many aspects of The Batman create the perfect opportunity for Killer Croc to become a true force to be reckoned with in The Batman 2.
Born with a genetic mutation that endows him with reptilian features, superhuman strength, and other abilities, Killer Croc has always been a formidable enemy of Batman. He started as a crocodile wrestler before becoming a gangster and eventually graduated to bigger tournaments, working with the likes of Black Mask, Ra's Al Ghul, and more. Croc has gone toe-to-toe in a fight against Bane, who breaks Batman's back, making Croc's lack of screen time in Suicide Squad all the more egregious.
Batman 2 can fix the sinister Batman mistake of Suicide Squad by making Killer Croc a compelling character as Batman did with all his villains. The Batman sequel is also perfectly prepared for Killer Croc due to the ending of The Batman. The flooding of the city caused by the Riddler's car bombings opens up a lot of possibilities for Killer Croc to take control of Gotham and draw on the elements of noir, mystery, and horror used by the director Matt Reeves in The Batman. This watery setting, along with the previous villain's mistreatment, means that any would-be Batman 2 has the perfect chance of delivering Killer Croc the onscreen payback the character deserves.
Suicide Squad Killer Croc gives a lackluster introduction by Amanda Waller Viola Davis and a few lines of dialogue for the entire film. Despite his scaly exterior, Waylon Jones isn't just an evil lizard man-made into a suicide squad. Killer Croc could be a different character, as seen in Rocksteady's Batman: Arkham Knight where Croc comes out of Iron Heights prison and seeks revenge on those who cruelly tried him. But just as Batman changed the origin of Hush, The Batman 2 could be a new origin story for Killer Croc.
Gotham's flood creates the perfect environment for Killer Croc to take over the city, as well as posing an obstacle for Batman in many ways. Flooded streets restrict the Batmobile and it's not quite late for Batman to glide across the sky, however, Batman's movement through Gotham will be severely affected. Killer Croc is a natural swimmer, and allowing Croc to advantage in his natural habitat would reverse Batman's role by turning Batman into Croc's prey. Furthermore, Robert Pattinson's Batman will not only struggle hard to defeat Killer Croc in head-to-head combat but will also need to utilize his detective skills to track Croc back home.
Batman 2 has the perfect setup to fix Suicide Squad's Killer Croc bug, but since director Matt Reeves has already teased future appearances for The Batman's Joker (Barry Keoghan), the chances of Killer Croc seem slim. Even if Killer Croc isn't the main villain in The Batman sequel, his inclusion in Reeves' more rooted films could lead to the development of other sinister characters like Mr. Freeze, Poison Ivy, or Clayface. Being able to introduce these characters while maintaining the tone of the first movie would certainly make Matt Reeves' Batman trilogy a step forward from Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy.