Barry Keoghan’s 2 Movies Since The Batman Prove He’s Perfect For The New Joker

Barry Keoghan had a small role as the Joker in DC’s The Batman, but two recent performances of his prove he’s a perfect choice for the role in The Batman – Part II. Playing the Joker is a massive undertaking for any actor, especially with the high bar set in the recent past. Both Heath Ledger and Joaquin Phoenix won Oscars for their portrayals of Joker in live-action, and both actors delivered unique interpretations of the character that can’t be matched. Actors have to be true to the character without copying previous performances, and Keoghan is the latest actor to take on this challenge.

Keoghan only had a brief appearance as Joker in The Batman, where he spoke with Riddler when the two were locked up in jail. However, a deleted scene gave viewers a closer look at the character. He is a scarred individual with a cruel sense of humor, a good start for a character who needs a blend of humor, tragedy, and depravity. Audiences won’t see more of his Joker until potentially 2025, but two recent roles have shown he is more than capable of playing the Crown Prince of Crime.

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The Banshees of Inisherin Proved He Can Pull Off Dark Comedy

Directed by Martin McDonagh, The Banshees of Inisherin starred Colin Farrel and Brendan Gleeson as two friends in a small town in Ireland who become enemies when one suddenly decides to stop speaking with the other. Keoghan plays Dominic, a dim and troubled young man, often abused by his father. He is a tragic character, but still likable, delivering many of the funniest lines in the film. Keoghan does an excellent job playing the role and received a nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the 2023 Academy Awards.

What Keoghan demonstrated in this role is his knack for dark comedy. Dominic shouldn’t be a funny role, but due to Keoghan’s delivery and timing, much of what he says comes off as funny, even if it’s not meant to be. The character also has charm and likability, even though he is often crass and immature. The best portrayals of the Joker have dark comedy infused in them, making comedy out of the harshest circumstances. In The Banshees of Inisherin, Keoghan proved he can bring a comedic edge to a more tragic and complex role.

Saltburn Showed His Fearlessness In Committing To A Performance

In Saltburn, Keoghan plays Oliver Quick, a student at Oxford who finds himself entangled with a wealthy social group. After being invited by Jacob Elordi’s Felix to visit his massive family mansion known as Saltburn, it becomes evident that Oliver’s motives may be for more than just Felix’s friendship. Saltburn had a small theatrical release but grew in popularity after its release on Prime Video. Many of its more shocking moments went viral on social media, but it was largely due to Keoghan’s fearless performance in Saltburn.

The film reveals that Oliver is more sinister than he comes across, and he quickly devolves into a sexually corrupt and violent person. Keoghan performs acts like drinking bathwater out of a tub and having explicit relations with a grave mound. There is also the nude dance finale he performs while strolling around Saltburn to the tune of “Murder on the Dancefloor.” All these moments show how fearless and committed Keoghan is as an actor, which would only benefit his performance as Joker, who commits many brutal and heinous acts.

Will Keoghan Have A Larger Role In The Batman – Part II?

It’s been largely assumed that Keoghan will have a role in Matt Reeves’ The Batman – Part II, but it hasn’t been officially confirmed. In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, Keoghan was asked about his role in the upcoming sequel, and he didn’t deny or reject that he’s in it. However, little is known about the sequel, including who the main villain will be.

Some rumors about the main antagonist suggest it could be Clayface, Professor Pyg, or Hush. The Batman did have multiple villains, so Keoghan could have a supporting role as a part of Batman’s rogues gallery without being the central antagonist. The series is supposedly a trilogy, so Reeves could make the Joker the main villain for the third and final installment. More will be revealed as The Batman – Part II‘s 2025 release date gets closer.