© NL Beeld

Lady Gaga - Harley Quinn -

Joaquin Phoenix's take on the Joker is vastly different from that of Heath Ledger's or Jared Leto's, but we're soon going to be treated to more of the Oscar-winning actor's take on the villain. Director Todd Phillips is bringing us the hotly anticipated sequel to 2019's 'Joker,' titled 'Joker: Folie à Deux.' Lady Gaga stars alongside Phoenix as Harley Quinn, as the pair form a dangerous and intense romance. The phrase folie à deux refers to a delusion or mental illness shared by two people.

The first official trailer was released at CinemaCon in April giving us a first look at the unstable pair's budding love story. They cross paths for the first time at the Arkham Asylum in the dark, moody footage. The tempo increases as they fall in love and burst free onto the streets of Gotham, dancing maniacally and transforming into fully realized versions of themselves—face paint and all. Little has been revealed about the actual plot, as it's difficult to tell reality from delusion in the trailer. But Philips has revealed that it's going to be a jukebox musical, taking full advantage of Gaga's talents. Her Harley Quinn seems vulnerable, obsessive, and at times, deranged. The film will be released on October 4, 2024. 

© NL Beeld

Colin Farrell - Penguin -

Colin Farrell's portrayal of the Penguin in the highly successful film 'The Batman' (2022) has been recognized by HBO. They announced their intention to create a spin-off series, tentatively named 'The Penguin,' which will center around Colin Farrell as the iconic villain. Matt Reeves, who also directed the movie, will be directing the series, and is delighted at the prospect: "Colin exploded off the screen as the Penguin in The Batman, and having the chance to thoroughly explore the inner life of that character on HBO Max is an absolute thrill."

© NL Beeld

Danny DeVito - Penguin - Danny DeVito has never looked so horrifying as he did in 'Batman Returns.' The Penguin's makeup took four and a half hours to apply.

© NL Beeld

Danny DeVito - Penguin - DeVito is one of two actors to play the Penguin in a live-action film, and his performance was nothing short of shocking. In the 'Gotham' TV show, of which DeVito is a fan, Robin Lord Taylor stars as the Penguin and is among the show's best actors.

© NL Beeld

Burgess Meredith - Penguin - The only other live-action portrayal of the Penguin in a film was Burgess Meredith in 'Batman: The Movie.' Meredith also played the Penguin in the 'Batman' TV show from the same year.

© NL Beeld

Paul Dano - The Riddler -

Paul Dano, who was nominated for an Emmy for 'Escape at Dannemora' and whose films include '12 Years a Slave' and 'There Will Be Blood,' more recently played the Riddler in Matt Reeves's 'The Batman.' The skilled actor came up with the idea of wrapping Saran wrap around his head to express his character's maniacal attention to detail when it comes to his murders. 

© Getty Images

Jim Carrey - The Riddler - Originally written for Robin Williams, Jim Carrey's portrayal of the Riddler in 'Batman Forever' (1995) has divided fans. What's almost universally agreed upon is that the character is possibly the most unorthodox portrayal in any Batman movie.

© NL Beeld

Zoë Kravitz - Catwoman - Zoë Kravitz plays Catwoman/Selina Kyle in 'The Batman' (2022). She brings grit, bite, and social commentary to the role, which balances out Robert Pattinson's emotional, brooding Batman. 

© Getty Images

Michelle Pfeiffer - Catwoman - Catwoman is one of the most recurring villains and has probably been played by the most actors. Michelle Pfeiffer gave an unforgettable performance in skin-tight leather in 'Batman Returns' (1992).

© NL Beeld

Catwoman - In 'Batman Returns,' Catwoman teams up with Danny DeVito's Penguin to frame Batman for a crime. The Catwoman character always has a dubious relationship with good and bad, often being at odds with Batman but fighting his enemies too.

© NL Beeld

Halle Berry - Catwoman - It's pretty rare for a Batman villain to get their own movie. There was a lot of excitement and anticipation ahead of Halle Berry's 'Catwoman' (2004).

© NL Beeld

No one had fun - Unfortunately, the movie was panned by audiences, and Berry herself said that no one on the set had fun.

© NL Beeld

Anne Hathaway - Catwoman - Anne Hathaway played Catwoman in 2012's 'The Dark Knight Rises,' giving one of the best reprisals of the role that's been seen in the modern era.

© NL Beeld

'Batman: The Movie' (1966) villains - With Burgess Meredith as the Penguin, Frank Gorshin as the Riddler, Lee Meriwether as Catwoman, and Cesar Romero as the Joker, this villainous cast of 'Batman: The Movie' was the first to define the comic book characters on the big screen.

© NL Beeld

Dehydrating world leaders - In 'Batman: The Movie,' these four super villains dehydrate important world leaders, holding them hostage until Batman and Robin meet their demands.

© NL Beeld

Joaquin Phoenix - The Joker -

Joaquin Phoenix was the fourth actor to play the Joker in 2019's 'Joker.' His portrayal was critically acclaimed but also controversial, with some feeling that the sympathetic angle sends a dangerous message and justifies violence. 

© NL Beeld

Jack Nicholson - The Joker - Tim Burton's 'Batman' (1989) is one of the most divisive takes in the entire film series, with fans either loving or hating the cartoonish portrayal. The film famously featured one of the strongest Joker performances of all time, by none other than Jack Nicholson.

© NL Beeld

First since the 1960s - Nicholson was the first actor to portray the Joker on the big screen since Cesar Romero did it in 1966. Perhaps most importantly, Nicholson was the first to portray the Joker in the dark, maniacal way he was written in the comics.

© NL Beeld

Warning to Heath Ledger - Heath Ledger was reportedly warned by Jack Nicholson over the role's mental and emotional toll ahead of filming. Nicholson said he could barely sleep while in character for the movie.

© NL Beeld

Margot Robbie - Harley Quinn - Though the character has appeared in a Batman TV series, Margot Robbie was the first actress to bring the character to life on the big screen in 2016, playing the Joker's other half. 

© NL Beeld

Margot Robbie - Harley Quinn - Then she got a live-action movie of her own, sans the Joker. 'Birds of Prey' premiered in winter 2020.

© NL Beeld

Uma Thurman - Poison Ivy - Uma Thurman is the only actress to portray Poison Ivy in a live-action film, though the 'Batman & Robin' (1997) performance was largely panned. The character Poison Ivy has, however, appeared on the TV show 'Gotham.'

© NL Beeld

Arnold Schwarzenegger - Mr. Freeze - Arnold Schwarzenegger is the only actor to ever portray Mr. Freeze in a live-action movie, doing so in 'Batman & Robin.'

© NL Beeld

Tommy Lee Jones - Two-Face - Tommy Lee Jones gave one of the seminal performances of Two-Face in 'Batman Forever,' a character not seen again until 'The Dark Knight' (2008). Though Tommy Lee Jones reportedly hated working with Jim Carrey, the Two-Face/Riddler dynamic was one of villainous marvel and hilarity.

© NL Beeld

Drew Barrymore - Sugar -

Drew Barrymore played Sugar, the nicer one of Two-Face's two girlfriends in 'Batman Forever.'

© Getty Images

Debi Mazar - Spice - The meaner one was Debi Mazar's Spice. Both Sugar and Spice operated as henchwomen for Two-Face.

© NL Beeld

Cillian Murphy - Scarecrow -

The only villain to appear in every 'Dark Knight' movie, Cillian Murphy's Scarecrow tends to get overshadowed by the other seminal performances of the series.

© NL Beeld

Arkham Asylum psychiatrist -

Known as Jonathan Crane, the psychiatrist at Arkham Asylum experiments on patients starting in 'Batman Begins' (2005) through to Bane's reign of terror in 'The Dark Knight Rises.'

© NL Beeld

Marion Cotillard - Miranda Tate/Talia al Ghul - Marion Cotillard portrays Miranda Tate, who is really Talia al Ghul, in 'The Dark Knight Rises,' literally stabbing Batman in the back.

© NL Beeld

Liam Neeson - Ra's al Ghul - As the head of the League of Shadows, where Batman learns his craft, Liam Neeson plays the lead instructor Ra's al Ghul in 'Batman Begins' and 'The Dark Knight Rises.'

© NL Beeld

Character twist - While Ra's al Ghul proves a mentor for Batman at first, he later becomes a villain. Bane, who also trained in the League of Shadows, enlists with Ra's al Ghul to go against Batman.

© NL Beeld

Ken Watanabe - Ra's al Ghul's Decoy -

In 'Batman Begins,' Ken Watanabe is at first believed to be Ra's al Ghul, serving as a decoy.

See also: Who is the best Batman of them all?

© NL Beeld