The Batman 2 Is Replacing Robin (& It Was Perfectly Set Up 4 Years Ago)

Published Sep 14, 2026, 6:30 PM EDT Simon Gallagher has worked in movie and TV journalism for more than 17 years. He has written more than 6000 articles and reviews, and edited thousands more. He is an expert in the entertainment industry, particularly in the golden age of screen superheroes. Simon is also a Rotten Tomatoes approved critic. After the wayward creativity of the DCEU, The Batman changed the conversation massively around the Dark Knight. Matt Reeves delivered a grounded, detective-first noir that breathed fresh air into Gotham City, and restored the famous DC city as a brutal character in itself as Tim Burton had done so well. The movie’s success also set expectations for The Batman Part II incredibly high, and that’s only got more pronounced over the long, slow journey to the sequel’s release. As with any sequel, there are certain specific expectations around The Batman Part II: the threat should be bigger, there should be more villains (since Batman sequels mostly expand the Rogues Gallery), and new eye-catching talent should come in. The latter part has definitely been delivered, with Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Charles Dance, and Brian Tyree Henry, joining The Batman Part II's cast, but the story has mostly been very well protected. That has led to rampant speculation, including, for a while, the suggestion that Robin might even be involved. While that always seemed like a stretch, a new update has raised the possibility that a beloved DC anti-villain who was intended to become Robin after the death of Jason Todd might be involved. The idea of Robert Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne bringing in a younger sidekick wouldn’t work in this version of Gotham, but a young vigilante being compelled to take action by the state of the city and being a different youthful presence makes way more sense. It seems Anarky might finally get his chance to be Robin’s replacement, after all. Evidence is Mounting that Anarky is In The Batman Part II New set leaks from the London production of The Batman Part II have thrown out some interesting reveals, including, of course, more evidence of the arrival of the Court of Owls. There is obviously still cause for some cynicism here, of course, because Matt Reeves has earned himself a reputation for creative misdirection, but the Court of Owls setup would make a lot of sense, even if they’re just being set up for the third movie. Somewhat more surprising was the reveal of a familiar looking logo painted onto a masked figure among an angry mob of anti-establishment protestors on Gotham’s streets. The white symbol of anarchy fits generally with the vibe of course, but combining it with a masked figure leads very firmly to Lonnie Machin, better known as DC anti-villain Anarky. Whether this mysterious figure is actually Machin himself or a radicalized street-level followers, echoing Riddler’s army in the first movie, the imagery feels way too intentional to not mean something. And frankly, having a youthful vigilante like Anarky makes way more sense in this universe than any of the Robins could. Why Anarky Is Perfect For The Batman Part II (& Far Better Than Robin) Though he’s not strictly a villain, Lonnie Machin is easily DC’s most explicitly political anti-villain. As an anti-capitalist, Anarky targets state institutions, corporate monopolies, and corrupt elites under the banner of social liberation, with notably more extreme methods than Batman. As it was in The Batman, the Gotham of The Penguin is one of rampant corruption, where the elites sit in high towers and the poor are cut off entirely. The Riddler started a revolution, but an outright anti-authoritarian crusade is the most logical next step for this world. Anarky is also an interesting opposite to the Court of Owls, who would presumably be the focus of his rage, especially with evidence that their existence is now an open secret. The Court represents old-school aristocratic control, which hoards power from high, but Anarky represents the chaotic antithesis. He is uncontrolled, lawless rebellion, even in contrast to Batman’s own regulated sense of justice. Batman is arguably closer to the middle of the spectrum, and after the Riddler’s rebellion, there’s potential that Gotham has more of a need for a more extreme solution. How The Batman's Ending Set Up Anarky This new dynamic for Gotham was put into motion four years ago when Robert Pattinson’s Dark Knight took down the Riddler at The Batman's ending, but was unable to stop his plan to flood the city. From his Arkham prison cell, Edward Nashton cleansed his city of filth, and we know that his mission didn’t die with the bombing. The Penguin established that his followers are still active, and still following his anti-corruption agenda. In other words, it’s well established that Gotham was a radicalization problem, and Anarky stepping into that makes very clear sense. He would be the voice of the the marginalized citizens, who have already flocked behind Oz Cobb as a “man of the people” type of figurehead. The Riddler proved that disenfranchised people can be turned against their city, The Penguin further eroded the moral fiber of Gotham, and Anarky taking justice into his own hands is an easy next step. Crucially, Anarky is essentially what Edward Nashton wanted Batman to become - what he actually thought Bruce Wayne was - and also what the Riddler's movement was set to evolve into. Bruce becoming the symbol of hope created an opportunity, particularly for Gotham’s angry youth, and Lonnie Machin can step into that gap perfectly. Release Date February 18, 2028 Director Matt Reeves Writers Matt Reeves, Mattson Tomlin Sequel to 2022's The Batman, director Matt Reeves' cinematic take on the Caped Crusader.