Barry Keoghan Reveals the Real Reason The Batman’s Joker Scene Was Cut

Let’s talk about one of those awkward little controversies that just won’t die: Barry Keoghan’s Joker scene in The Batman. You’ve probably seen the headlines, the YouTube uploads, the neverending fan debates. Keoghan sat down with WIRED and finally set the record straight (well, as much as he’s actually allowed to say). If you’re still confused about what happened to his infamous Joker scene, here’s what’s up—without any cryptic studio talk.

Not Quite 'Deleted', More Like 'Moved'

Keoghan made it clear: stop calling it 'deleted'. The scene isn’t lost in a Warner Bros. vault. It got chopped out of the theatrical release, sure, but the studio went ahead and dropped it online after the film opened, pretty much as a bonus feature for fans who couldn’t stop speculating.

'It was deleted from the movie, but it still exists because, you know, it came out after the movie, which I thought was quite a nice moment.'

So, technically: cut, but not erased. Honestly, for a cut scene, this one probably got more attention than a lot of action that actually made it into The Batman.

How Keoghan Landed Joker in the First Place

If you’re keeping track of DC casting surprises, here’s a fun wrinkle: Keoghan didn’t even go after the Joker at the start. He originally auditioned for the Riddler—which ended up going to Paul Dano. Somewhere in that process, he got shuffled over to the Joker, and the rest is superhero movie trivia.

Will He Play Joker Again? Don’t Hold Your Breath...At Least for Now

If you’re itching for a future Keoghan-Joker showdown with Pattinson’s Batman, he’s not talking. Whenever anyone asks if he’ll be back in The Batman: Part II, he gets that wide-eyed 'can’t confirm or deny' look.

His words: 'I cannot answer that question truly, sincerely. Cannot talk about that.' In other words, probably yes, but officially—your guess is as good as mine. (Fun fact: his own Fandom wiki page already claims he’s returning for The Batman: Part II. Take that how you want.)

Bizarre Roles? Or Just Keoghan Being Keoghan

People love to say Keoghan always goes for the weirdos, but he’ll tell you it isn’t on purpose.

His take: 'I think I just play characters and then they end up being weird because I play them.'

Honestly, fair. He admits he’s drawn to complicated people and messy relationships—stuff that gives audiences the 'guilty pleasure' kick. If a part gets bizarre, that’s just his spin on honesty and truth as an actor. And, let’s face it, it works.

Quick Roundup: More Keoghan Highlights

• On his Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man role (Duke Shelby), Keoghan called Cillian Murphy one of Ireland’s all-time great actors, and admitted he was basically sweating bullets filming scenes opposite Tommy Shelby.
• Asked about his Dunkirk character’s death, he remembered how surprisingly intimate it felt shooting those tiny boat sequences, even though the movie itself is a giant, blockbuster war epic.

For the Calendar

The Batman: Part II is officially set for October 1, 2027. Unless Warner Bros. gets wild and shakes things up (which, let’s be honest, is always possible), that’s when you’ll maybe-probably see Keoghan’s Joker again.