Brad Pitt Almost Joined The Batman 2 as Scarlett Johansson’s Father-in-Law — Then Walked Away
The Batman 2 is courting A-list firepower, with Brad Pitt and Scarlett Johansson on the studio’s radar — but Pitt has already passed on an offered role, according to The InSneider.
Matt Reeves is quietly building out The Batman: Part 2, and the rumor mill just threw two big names into Gotham. Brad Pitt was reportedly approached for a grim role tied to Harvey Dent. Scarlett Johansson is said to be in the mix too. One of them already said no. The other could end up married to a future supervillain. Normal day in this town.
Brad Pitt was asked to play Harvey Dent's dad — and passed
Per The InSneider, Pitt was offered Christopher Dent, Harvey's father. In the comics, Christopher is a nasty piece of work: an alcoholic with serious mental health issues who regularly brutalizes his son. It is not a flattering part, and it would have been a stark turn for a megastar. According to the same reporting, Pitt declined.
If he had taken it, there is a curious family-tree wrinkle: he would have been playing father-in-law to Scarlett Johansson's character, if her rumored casting sticks.
Scarlett Johansson's name is circling Gilda Gold
The InSneider also says Johansson is being eyed for Gilda Gold, who comic readers will know as Harvey Dent's wife (Gilda Gold before marriage, Gilda Dent after). Before Harvey becomes Two-Face, he and Batman are allies trying to clean up Gotham. Then a brutal courtroom attack leaves Harvey half-disfigured, his mind splits along those infamous good/evil lines, and the coin flips start running his life.
Gilda's portrayal varies by storyline. In some modern comics, Erin McKillen — an Irish mobster with a vendetta — attacks the couple, stabbing Gilda and later scarring Harvey with acid. If The Batman: Part 2 uses any of that, it would hand Johansson a meaty, tragic role that ties directly into Two-Face's origin.
Who is actually in this thing so far?
- Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne/Batman — back under the cowl.
- Colin Farrell as Oswald 'Oz' Cobblepot/The Penguin — expected to continue his rise from the Penguin series.
- Jeffrey Wright as James Gordon — Gotham's straight-arrow cop.
- Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth — Bruce's long-suffering conscience.
- Brad Pitt — was offered Christopher Dent, passed, per The InSneider.
- Scarlett Johansson — rumored for Gilda Gold/Dent, per The InSneider.
Quick reality check
These Pitt and Johansson details are not studio-confirmed. They are industry reports, and plans change. Also worth noting for anyone keeping score at home: Reeves' Batman movies sit in DC's 'Elseworlds' lane, separate from James Gunn's mainline DCU. So if Johansson does sign on, it would be for Reeves' corner of Gotham, not the core DCU slate.
When do we see it?
The Batman: Part 2 is dated for October 1, 2027.
If this all lands, Johansson as Gilda could give the sequel a personal, devastating route into Two-Face — and Pitt turning down Christopher Dent suggests Reeves is aiming high with even the supporting roles. Your move, Gotham.