James Gunn Confirms No Joker Series in the Works at DC Studios

Earlier this week, reports surfaced suggesting that Barry Keoghan’s Joker was not only slated for a major role in a future movie but also his own spin-off series. The buzz had fans excited at the prospect of seeing more of Keoghan’s take on the iconic villain, following his brief appearance in The Batman. However, DC Studios co-head James Gunn took to Threads to clear up the confusion and set the record straight.

“Turn on threads and everyone is asking me about this,” Gunn wrote. “No there is absolutely no truth to this. A Joker series is not being discussed nor has even come up at this time. Sorry.”

The initial rumor, shared on the Marvelvision podcast by Derek Faraci, suggested that Keoghan’s Joker would not appear in The Batman Part II but would take center stage as the main villain in The Batman Part III. The podcast also claimed that a standalone Joker series would precede that movie. Gunn’s statement, however, confirms that these speculations are unfounded.

While this news may disappoint fans hoping for an extended look at Keoghan’s Joker, it doesn’t mean DC Studios and HBO aren’t planning more expansions in The Batman universe. In an interview with Interview, director Matt Reeves discussed the potential for more shows set in Gotham, saying, “Yeah. We have been talking, and it’s exciting because people are now embracing the show. My fantasy is coming into being, which is very exciting, and HBO has been incredibly supportive from the beginning.”

Reeves added, “We have been talking about doing other shows… It’s about cities and their dysfunction and the world and its dysfunction, which is what Batman stories are all about. They’re all about Gotham being a place that should be better. And you can have that experience of this most novelistic epic crime saga, but you also just get these separate experiences.”

Despite Gunn debunking the Joker series rumor, fans remain hopeful that Barry Keoghan will eventually have more screen time as the Clown Prince of Crime. His brief cameo in 2022’s The Batman and a deleted five-minute scene left audiences eager for more. Reeves noted that the character’s original appearance wasn’t meant to set up future stories, but it’s clear that fans want to see Keoghan’s Joker take on a bigger role in Gotham’s unfolding drama.

For now, The Batman Part II is slated for release on October 2, 2026, and the season finale of The Penguin is set to air on Sunday, November 10th on HBO.