Matt Reeves’ 2026 Batman TV Series Will Feature The Joker in a Huge Role

The Joker is returning to Gotham — but not the way fans might expect. Matt Reeves’ Batman: Caped Crusader is set to debut its second season on Prime Video in 2026, and according to co-showrunner James Tucker, the upcoming episodes will feature a brand-new interpretation of the Clown Prince of Crime.

Speaking in a new interview, Tucker said that this Joker will feel “very different” for fans familiar with portrayals like Mark Hamill’s or Jack Nicholson’s, while still honoring the classic comic roots of the character.

“If Joker begins with Mark Hamill and Jack Nicholson, this take on the Joker will be very different for them. But for people who’ve read comics for a long, long, long, long time, it won’t be. Some people will recognize it and go, ‘Oh, I see what they’re doing.’ And other people will go, ‘Wow, this is different.’ But I think it’s all Joker.”

While Joker didn’t appear in Caped Crusader’s first season, the finale dropped a chilling tease of the Clown Prince of Gotham. The last episode, “Savage Night,” closed with a haunting scene of hostages laughing themselves to death as a shadowy figure wielding a needle declared, “Perfect.”

Tucker confirmed that Season 2 will dive deeper into this version of the Joker, whose origins may harken back to Batman’s Golden Age comics. The series’ noir tone and detective focus are already setting it apart from most modern Batman stories, and Tucker says Reeves has encouraged that separation.

“We weren’t given a mandate to match what [Matt Reeves] was doing. He understands our show is separate from the movies. The only thing we may have in common is that both versions of Batman come from a more detective angle.”

What Can We Expect From Batman in the Future?

With Batman: The Animated Series icon Mark Hamill retiring from the role following Kevin Conroy’s passing, Caped Crusader will introduce a new actor as Joker — though no casting has been announced yet. Hamish Linklater made his debut as Batman in the series, and the showrunners seem to be following that same philosophy for Joker: a clean slate.

While Caped Crusader unfolds on Prime Video, Reeves is also working on The Batman: Part II and producing several other Gotham-related projects, including the horror-ish Clayface movie and the puppet-animation hybrid Dynamic Duo.

For now, though, Batman: Caped Crusader is nearly finished with production on Season 2, with Tucker saying they’re putting the “final touches” on the new episodes — all aiming to drop sometime in 2026.