Scarlett Johansson may be edging closer to a very different kind of superhero role, with renewed reports suggesting she could play Poison Ivy in Matt Reeves’ The Batman: Part II. Johansson’s casting in the sequel is confirmed, but her character has not been officially revealed, leaving room for one of DC’s most iconic villains to re-enter the conversation.

The mystery has become particularly intriguing because Johansson was linked to multiple possible roles when her casting was first reported. One possibility appeared to fade as another character was widely reported, but recent speculation has brought Poison Ivy back into the conversation.

So, who exactly is Poison Ivy, and why has the character remained such an enduring presence in Batman’s world? Before getting into the latest Scarlett Johansson rumors, here is everything to know about the villain behind the speculation.

Poison Ivy first appeared in Batman #181 in 1966, created by Robert Kanigher and Sheldon Moldoff. Originally introduced as a seductive femme fatale, she gradually evolved into Pamela Isley, a botanist whose transformation gave her an extraordinary connection to plant life.

That connection makes Ivy one of Gotham’s most distinctive threats. She can control plants and turn vines, roots and other vegetation into weapons, while her natural pheromones allow her to manipulate people. But her powers are only part of what makes her dangerous.

Ivy is driven by an extreme belief that humanity has abused the planet and that nature must be protected at almost any cost. That makes her an eco-t******** rather than a conventional criminal, while her repeated compassion toward people who have been victimized gives her a moral complexity rarely found among Batman’s rogues.

That complexity extends to her relationship with Batman. He opposes the violence behind her methods, but cannot simply dismiss the environmental cause driving her. Her close relationship with Harley Quinn has also become an important part of her modern mythology, giving Ivy a life beyond her rivalry with the Dark Knight. And now, that complicated character may be heading into Matt Reeves’ grounded version of Gotham.

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And that complexity is precisely what makes the latest speculation around Scarlett Johansson so intriguing, especially with Reeves keeping her role in The Batman: Part II firmly under wraps.

Scarlett Johansson’s involvement in Matt Reeves’ sequel is no longer speculation. The filmmaker officially announced her casting alongside several other newcomers, posting a photo of the actress from Under the Skin with the message, “Next exit, Gotham… Welcome.”

The mystery is her character. When Johansson was first reported to be in talks for The Batman: Part II, Poison Ivy was among the characters she was rumored to be considering. That possibility was largely overshadowed after reports began identifying her as Gilda Gold, also known as Gilda Dent, the wife of Harvey Dent.

That theory made sense within the growing speculation that The Batman: Part II could draw heavily from Batman: The Long Halloween. In the comic, Gilda eventually becomes connected to the Holiday K***** storyline, while her husband Harvey is ultimately transformed into Two-Face. Reports have also linked Sebastian Stan to Harvey Dent, with Charles Dance believed to be playing his father, Christopher Dent.

But the Poison Ivy theory has refused to disappear. The speculation has become even more interesting because The Batman: Part II appears to be expanding the mythology of Reeves’ Gotham while maintaining the grounded approach of the first film. The sequel’s confirmed cast includes Robert Pattinson returning as Bruce Wayne, alongside Jeffrey Wright, Andy Serkis and Colin Farrell, with Johansson joined by Sebastian Stan, Charles Dance, Brian Tyree Henry and Sebastian Koch.

For now, Johansson is confirmed for The Batman: Part II, but Poison Ivy is not. Yet if the rumors are true, Reeves may be preparing to introduce a version of the character that looks very different from the comic-book seductress audiences have seen before. And with the sequel now scheduled for February 18, 2028, there is still plenty of time for that mystery to grow.

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If Scarlett Johansson really is playing Poison Ivy, Reeves could be giving one of Batman’s most complex villains a very different live-action treatment. Would you be excited to see Johansson take on the role? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!