{"id":486738,"date":"2026-05-15T22:38:10","date_gmt":"2026-05-15T22:38:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/486738\/"},"modified":"2026-05-15T22:38:10","modified_gmt":"2026-05-15T22:38:10","slug":"matt-reeves-is-diabolical-for-this-deep-cut-batman-reference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/486738\/","title":{"rendered":"Matt Reeves Is Diabolical for This Deep Cut Batman Reference"},"content":{"rendered":"

Matt Reeves probably didn\u2019t intend to imply what he implied with two specific words during his The Batman Part II casting announcements<\/a> this week, but what if he did?<\/p>\n

This week, the writer and director of the highly anticipated Bat-sequel took to X to announce the cast<\/a> for the film, which opens October 1, 2027<\/a>. Reeves posted about everyone, from Batman himself, played by Robert Pattinson, all the way down to new additions like Scarlett Johansson and Sebastian Stan. He even revealed a few names that Hollywood reporters hadn\u2019t picked up on yet, such as Brian Tyree Henry, the award-winning actor best known for his roles on Atlanta, in Marvel\u2019s Eternals<\/a>, and as the voice of Miles\u2019 dad in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.<\/p>\n

Each announcement post came with a short, quippy welcome. \u201cWe meet again, my friend.\u201d \u201cWelcome back to the fight, my friend.\u201d \u201cNext exit, Gotham. Welcome.\u201d \u201cOut of the shadows. Welcome.\u201d Those are just a few. But then he came to Tyree Henry, the last of the bunch. The grand finale. And here\u2019s the post.<\/p>\n

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Welcome to the party, man\u2026 \ud83e\udd87\ud83e\udd87 pic.twitter.com\/9ESphamrCI<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Matt Reeves (@mattreevesLA) May 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

On first inspection, \u201cWelcome to the party, man\u201d seems innocent enough. The movie is the \u201cparty,\u201d and he\u2019s welcoming the actor, as he did the others. But some of us viewed the phrase a little differently. This, after all, is about a Batman movie. And fans of Batman movies have heard the phrase \u201cparty man\u201d before. Where exactly?<\/p>\n

Ahem. \u201cGentlemen, let\u2019s broaden our minds\u201d with the video.<\/p>\n

Yes, \u201cPartyman\u201d is a Prince song written specifically for Tim Burton\u2019s 1989 film Batman. It plays as the Joker (Jack Nicholson) defaces a museum on his way to a date with Vicki Vale.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s no way Matt Reeves doesn\u2019t know this. So, probably, he did it as a cheeky wink to fans. A sly, deeper cut Batman reference we can all enjoy with a smile. Or, is it something more?<\/p>\n

The way out there hypothesis is that Tyree Henry is playing the Joker or, whatever the Joker is in Matt Reeves \u201cEpic Crime Saga.\u201d Of course, we all saw Barry Keoghan as \u201cUnseen Arkham Prisoner\u201d in the 2022 film, who had a manic smile, laugh, and talked about clowns. We all assume he\u2019s the Joker. Reeves has even talked about him being Joker<\/a>. But until he\u2019s called the Joker in a movie, anything could happen. Maybe the concept of the Joker is different in this world. Maybe he\u2019s a Joker, not the Joker.<\/p>\n

We can also look at Prince\u2019s lyrics to try to decipher Reeves\u2019 meaning. \u201cAll hail, the new king in town \/ Young and old, gather \u2019round \/ Black and white, red and green \/ The funkiest man you\u2019ve ever seen.\u201d In the film, the strong implication is that he\u2019s literally singing about the Joker. But in a broader context, Prince could be talking about any kind of boisterous, powerful, flamboyant person who loves to have a good time. Maybe Tyree Henry\u2019s character is something like that.<\/p>\n

Or maybe Reeves just meant \u201cWelcome to the party, Brian.\u201d<\/p>\n

Do you think Reeves knew what he was doing when he used those words? Did he mean anything by it? Let us know below.<\/p>\n

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Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel<\/a>, Star Wars<\/a>, and Star Trek<\/a> releases, what\u2019s next for the DC Universe on film and TV<\/a>, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n