Lock Up from Batman: The Animated Series would fit perfectly into The Batman's gritty realism and be the best villain for the sequel.

Warning: Contains SPOILERS for The Batman

With The Batman 2 confirmed, speculation arises as to which villains the franchise will focus on next, but Batman: The Animated Series offers a great option in the form of the obscure villain Lock-Up. Matt Reeves' gritty realism in this new Batman universe opens a door for more grounded villains who foster modern relevance. Lock-Up's episode from Batman: The Animated Series parallels political themes present in Reeves' The Batman installment.

Batman: The Animated Series season 3 episode 9 "Lock-Up" introduces the character of Lyle Bolton. Bolton is a guard at Arkham Asylum who terrorizes the inmates because he believes they are degenerate enough to deserve that kind of behavior. Scarecrow initially tips Batman off about the misconduct, so Bruce Wayne (voiced by Kevin Conroy) calls a hearing that results in Bolton's termination at the asylum. From then on, Bolton's rage at his authority being taken away inspires him to transform into the villain Lock-Up. His anger is directed at the officials responsible not only for his termination but for the rise of crime in Gotham. He feels spurned by a system he assumed was black-and-white when it came to good and evil morality. The Riddler in Matt Reeves’ refreshing The Batman torments politicians and government officials, targeting them for many of the same reasons Lock-Up does.

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The political themes in The Batman are poignant and highlight the city's need for a vigilante seeking real justice like Batman. The villain Riddler poses a conflict that proves there is a difference between vengeance and justice. The episode "Lock-Up" in Batman: The Animated Show communicates a similar message which solidifies Lyle Bolton might be the best fit for The Batman 2, even if his character would merely be inspired by the Riddler's burgeoning legacy. If Reeves wishes to stick to themes about government corruption, including a character like Bolton may not only be a unique callback to the animated series but relevant to worldly conflicts. Lock-Up's motivations are different than Riddler's because he started off as a source of corruption in the system he eventually turns on, having abused inmates like Harley Quinn who were attempting to reform. The sequel could expand upon Lock-Up's warped concept of slander since news channels are more polarizing than ever in today's politics. In his BTAS episode, Lock-Up feels persecuted by Gotham's news channels and ignores his own malicious intentions when working for Arkham Asylum.

Lock-Up and Riddler share the similarity of looking up to Batman because they initially believe he is on their side due to Batman's equally slanted code of ethics. Both the animated series episode and The Batman prove the difference between Batman's vigilantism and what Riddler and Lock-up believe to be vigilantism. The fact that the villains' motivations are so eerily similar works against the possibility of Lock-Up turning up in The Batman sequel because Reeves will likely attempt to avoid repetition. As stated, however, Lock-Up would be a fun Easter egg even if he appears briefly as a potential follower of Riddler. There has been no live-action depiction of Lock-Up in Batman media, so an appearance would be an imaginative twist.

The Batman 2 may decide not to take inspiration from Batman: The Animated Series, but if it does Lock-Up would be a fitting option to include as one of the villains. Lyle Bolton made a lasting impression in his Batman: The Animated Series episode and deserves a more intricate storyline than he's been given. There has not been any confirmation on who the main villains will be in The Batman 2 sequel, but Lock-Up is the most practical choice.

Next: Casting The Batman Sequel's Potential Villains 

Zoe Jordan is a young freelance Movie/TV Features Writer for Screen Rant. She has become well-versed in Film and Television from the various cinema study classes she attended at SUNY Purchase in NY. She has key knowledge in film subjects and genres such as Italian Neo-Realism, Film Noir, and the history of horror. Miss Jordan has experience writing for theater and won a semi-finalist placement for short horror screenplay in the New York City Horror Film Festival in 2021. Based out of Florida, Zoe has grown a veritable interest in publishing her writing, honing her style, and working to gain notice in the film industry. Her goal is to become a successful screenwriter, and preferably, write original horror shorts and feature length films.