So about those Scarlett Johansson rumors swirling around The Batman Part II: yes, she might be in the mix. No, she reportedly was not the first call. The whole thing involves Emma Stone, money talks, and a very old-school star strategy to get a deal done.
The report, the role, and the money
Per Jeff Sneider over at The InSneider, Warner Bros. and Matt Reeves first approached Emma Stone for a mystery role in The Batman 2. The part is being kept under wraps, but the chatter is that it could be a Bruce Wayne love interest, especially with reports suggesting Zoe Kravitz is unlikely to return for the sequel. Stone, however, allegedly passed.
Why the no? Sneider says it came down to compensation. He links it to the same reason she reportedly turned down Marvel's The Fantastic Four: First Steps: the payday wasn’t where she wanted it.
"I know [Stone] wanted a big payday for Marvel's Fantastic Four movie, and I imagine she'd want the same for The Batman Part II."
– Jeff Sneider, The InSneider
Enter Scarlett Johansson
After Stone allegedly bowed out, Sneider claims Johansson told her team to aggressively go after The Batman Part II. The interesting wrinkle: she was reportedly willing to take less upfront if it meant she got into the movie.
The rumor is that Johansson may have structured a deal with a lower salary in exchange for backend points — meaning her ultimate paycheck would scale with the film's box office. If true, that is a classic movie-star bet on both herself and the sequel's earning power. Given Johansson is a two-time Oscar nominee and does not typically come cheap, the willingness to tweak the math suggests she really wants in on Reeves' world.
What the chatter says (all unconfirmed)
- Source: Jeff Sneider (via The InSneider).
- Emma Stone was approached first for a secret role, possibly a Bruce Wayne love interest.
- Stone allegedly passed over pay, similar to her reported stance on Marvel's The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
- Johansson then pursued the film, reportedly open to a smaller upfront fee.
- She may have traded salary for backend points, tying her payout to box office performance.
- Zoe Kravitz is reportedly unlikely to return for the sequel.
- Johansson is also set to headline the next The Exorcist reboot.
- Production on The Batman Part II is expected to start next year.
- Release date: October 1, 2027.
How real is this?
None of this has been officially confirmed by Warner Bros., Matt Reeves, or the actors' reps. But the shape of the story tracks with industry logic: Stone wants top-tier money; Johansson is willing to gamble on backend; Reeves' sequel is a safe bet to open big; and timing-wise, the production gearing up next year lines up with that 2027 date.
My read
If Johansson did angle for points, that signals confidence in Reeves' vision and in the sequel's box office ceiling. Also notable: if Kravitz really isn’t back, the mystery role suddenly becomes a lot more interesting in terms of who Bruce is sparring with — romantically or otherwise. Either way, if you're going to bet on a blockbuster in 2027, The Batman Part II is not a bad horse.