Joker’s Backstory In The Batman: Origin, Scars, Injuries & Pattinson Past

Here’s what we know about Joker’s backstory in The Batman, from his facial scarring to his intimate familiarity with Robert Pattinson’s vigilante. With Paul Dano as Riddler and Colin Farrell as The Penguin, Matt Reeves’ 2022 noir-fest The Batman isn’t found wanting for major DC villains. Nevertheless, Reeves sneaked a third big baddie into his finished cut – Barry Keoghan’s Joker. Although reports had the Eternals actor pegged as Hollywood’s new Clown Prince ahead of release, the scene in question remains highly elusive. Not only does Keoghan never fully reveal himself onscreen, but his character is credited as “Unnamed Arkham Prisoner,” retaining an aura of mystery as he poses a friendly riddle toward the recently incarcerated Edward Nashton.

Matt Reeves quickly dropped the pretense and admitted Keoghan was indeed his Joker, but also confirmed a very different introduction had been filmed. Rather than charming Riddler in Arkham toward the movie’s end, The Batman originally had Batman confront his nemesis in a much longer scene. That tantalizing exchange has now been released online by Warner Bros., affording fans a detailed glimpse of Barry Keoghan’s Joker design, and dropping subtle clues as to his villainous backstory.

As if the character would have it any other way, The Batman‘s Joker remains largely an enigma, but as fresh details – and, more importantly, fresh footage – emerge, what kind of Joker picture can be built from the various pieces scattered through both The Batman and its accompanying deleted scene?

Barry Keoghan’s Joker Scars & Injuries In The Batman

The Batman stops short of providing a full visual of Barry Keoghan’s Joker, but even from behind his Arkham cell, extreme scarring is visible. The deleted scene he shares with Robert Pattinson’s Batman reveals the true extent of those injuries. Sunken lines around Joker’s mouth and cheeks betray the permanent smile this iteration of the iconic DC villain is afflicted with. Matt Reeves has confirmed Barry Keoghan’s Joker suffers from an unspecified congenital condition which pulls his face into a permanent smile, and the physical effects of that constant enforced grin are recreated here through hugely impressive prosthetic work.

Curiously, it’s not just a perma-smile on Joker’s mouth. The Batman‘s deleted scene shows bubbled skin and lesions that are consistent (“Hollywood” consistent, at least) with acid damage. Matt Reeves has suggested (via IGN) that Barry Keoghan’s Joker doesn’t follow the standard ACE Chemicals vat backstory, but the wrinkled, broken, burned skin certainly points toward some kind of chemical exposure in his past.

The potential key is a large scar located on the back of Joker’s head. Though visible in The Batman‘s finished cut, deleted footage shows this injury in all its gruesome detail, and seemingly confirms a theory that pulls from Joker’s “Death of the Family” comic book storyline. Crude staples strongly suggest Joker has attempted removing and grafting his own face – something beauty specialists generally advise against. When Joker reattached his face in “Death of the Family,” it was largely a symbolic gesture, but given Matt Reeves’ revelation of a congenital condition and a lifetime of being ostracized for the way he looks, it feels more likely that Joker attempted DIY surgery to address his constant smile. This might also explain the chemical damage and mouth scars – other misguided efforts to alter his physical appearance. You’d imagine removing one’s face is not conducive to a healthy head of hair, and that’s likely why The Batman‘s Joker only has sporadic tufts to cover large bald patches.

Finally, the same bubbled scarring from Joker’s mouth can be spotted on his wrists when he handles Batman’s file on The Riddler. Had Reeves not already leaned away from the concept, these injuries would once again point toward Barry Keoghan’s character taking a tumble at ACE Chemicals but, also once again, there are signs the damage could be partially self-inflicted. A close-up of Joker’s hands and fingers shows fresh blood around his nails, despite being locked up in Arkham. This could mean he’s constantly picking at his scars and creating fresh wounds.

Why The Batman’s Joker Is Already In Arkham

When The Batman‘s Joker debuted as an existing resident of Arkham State Hospital, audiences pondered whether he and Robert Pattinson’s Batman were already well-acquainted, theorizing that the first chapter in their titanic DC rivalry might’ve played out off-screen before The Batman‘s timeline. The Batman‘s deleted scene confirms this theory explicitly, and while their conversation doesn’t provide a full refresher on what went down, a few mouthwatering hints are left to chew on.

When Batman hands over his Riddler case file, Joker makes a quip about a “first anniversary” present. The Batman finds Robert Pattinson’s vigilante in his second year of crime fighting, so that means the Caped Crusader’s Joker showdown must’ve happened a little over a year after Batman began reigning terror over the criminals of Gotham City. Not only was Joker almost certainly Batman’s first major catch, we can also deduce their rivalry was a long one. Barry Keoghan mocks his Pattinson-shaped sparring partner with lines like, “You’re normally so ahead of the curve,” and “You are so much more fun.” Batman vs Joker wasn’t just a ‘one-and-done’ incident then; it was a long-term rivalry with multiple encounters, during which both men got to know each other’s habits and traits… for better or worse.

The Batman‘s deleted scene doesn’t confirm exactly which act of criminality landed Joker in Arkham, but since the Dark Knight has come to him with a case involving a serial killer, it’s a safe bet the Clown Prince of Crime took multiple innocent lives before Batman successfully put him away.

The Dynamic Between Robert Pattinson’s Batman & Joker

Perhaps the most revealing aspect of The Batman‘s deleted Joker scene lies in the dynamic between hero and villain. DC lore has often presented Batman and Joker as two halves of the same coin – or, at the very least, two enemies who know each other better than any friend could. This bond has already been established in The Batman‘s universe.

For starters, Bruce respects Joker enough to request his “perspective” on the Riddler case. That means Batman values The Joker – even if he despises him. Joker’s gag about anniversaries, meanwhile, proves he’s already identified Batman as an eternal dance partner, two kindred spirits destined to go back-and-forth on the streets of Gotham until the very end. Though he’s obviously being obtuse in this moment, Joker sees his dynamic with Batman very much like a romantic relationship in the sense it’s something to be celebrated and remembered, just like he remembers the first time they met.

The Batman‘s deleted scene goes on to demonstrate how well these fated opponents know each other psychologically. Joker plays hard-to-get, but Batman remains confident curiosity will get the better of his prison pal, accusing the villain of “[getting] off on this stuff.” Joker doth protest, but he takes a look anyway, and can’t stop himself laughing at The Riddler’s audacity and ambition, proving Batman was right to seek out his guidance. Unfortunately for the Caped Crusader, that door swings both ways. Within seconds of delving into Riddler’s file, Joker is drawing eerily accurate parallels between Batman and Riddler, finishing with his pièce de résistance – Batman feels guilty because he knows the victims had it coming.

Whatever Bruce Wayne is paying his current therapist, he’s throwing money down the drain. Despite knowing each other a relatively short amount of time, Batman and Joker have a keen grasp on each other’s psyches, coming across like old friends from DC super-college. Joker’s near-instantaneous analysis of Riddler’s motivations and background (all of which is spot-on) proves he’s a mental genius.

Barry Keoghan’s Joker Backstory In The Batman

Neither The Batman nor its deleted scene reveal much in the way of Joker’s backstory, and if decades of DC comics and multiple adaptations are anything to go by, that’s not information we’re getting anytime soon. Regardless, Matt Reeves does sprinkle some crucial details to consider. At no point in The Batman‘s deleted scene does Pattinson utter the name “Joker.” This is because Barry Keoghan’s character isn’t actually Joker in The Batman… yet. He’s a notorious criminal with the look, the laugh, and the attitude all nailed down – but he hasn’t officially taken on the “Joker” mantle. This has been confirmed by Matt Reeves, who describes wanting Keoghan to portray a Joker-before-the-Joker.

Maybe that means Barry Keoghan’s version hasn’t yet donned the iconic purple costume and full clown makeup. If Matt Reeves intends this prisoner to blossom into the Joker further down the line, it stands to reason that some key elements of the DC icon haven’t yet fallen into place. During his battles against Robert Pattinson’s Batman, the prisoner might’ve even assumed the Red Hood identity – an early guise Joker takes in one of his various DC comic backstories.

Even if Joker isn’t quite fully evolved, The Batman makes indications that his famous persona is gestating. Talking to Riddler in The Batman‘s final cut, Joker says, “One day you’re on top, the next you’re a clown,” which immediately establishes his circus obsession. Getting himself sentenced to Arkham, meanwhile, supports fans’ long-held theory that the gang Batman brutalizes in Matt Reeves’ opening sequence (the thugs wearing rudimentary clown-adjacent makeup) are remnants of Joker’s old gang being finished off by Gotham’s shadowy vigilante.

That might explain why close-ups of Joker’s face reveal subtle flecks of white face paint to go along with his bright green hair. Both of these traits could feasibly be attributed to Joker’s skin condition or the methods he used to try reversing it but, equally, they may be signs of “The Joker” developing in his recognizable form. When Barry Keoghan’s Joker inevitably escapes Arkham, maybe then he’ll be purple-coat-wearing, white-skinned clown that haunts Bruce Wayne’s nightmares forever after.

About The Author

Craig Elvy
(3631 Articles Published)

Craig first began contributing to Screen Rant in 2016, several years after graduating college, and has been ranting ever since, mostly to himself in a darkened room. Having previously written for various sports and music outlets, Craig’s interest soon turned to TV and film, where a steady upbringing of science fiction and comic books finally came into its own.
Craig has previously been published on sites such as Den of Geek, and after many coffee-drenched hours hunched over a laptop, part-time evening work eventually turned into a full-time career covering everything from the zombie apocalypse to the Starship Enterprise via the TARDIS.

Since joining the Screen Rant fold, Craig has been involved in breaking news stories and mildly controversial ranking lists, but now works predominantly as a features writer.
Jim Carrey is Craig’s top acting pick and favorite topics include superheroes, anime and the unrecognized genius of the High School Musical trilogy.

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