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DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn recently denied reports of a standalone Mr. Freeze project being in development, but now that the supervillain is back in popular discussion, fans have been vocal about their wish to see him inThe Batman Part II. While the prospect of Bruce Wayne going head-to-head against Victor Fries in a live-action film is exciting by itself, the greater opportunity here is in how Matt Reeves’ upcoming film could depict him as a grounded and realistic antagonist.
The Batman Part IIis set to premiere on June 15, 2025, but there has been no official confirmation about who Robert Pattinson’s billionaire vigilante will face in the sequel. The 2022 film featured someiconic Batman villainslike the Riddler (Paul Dano) and the Penguin (Colin Farrell), along with a final cameo by the Joker (Barry Keoghan). All three are likely to return in the sequel in key negative roles, but there is still room for DC to introduce other comic book favorites such as Mr. Freeze.
WillThe Batman Part IIFeature Mr. Freeze?
Given that there was no mention ofMr. Freeze inThe Batman, it’s unlikely that director Matt Reeves would suddenly introduce the character without proper setup. However, with filming for the sequel yet to begin, Reeves could still surprise audiences by incorporating the icy antagonist. In fact, he has been openly vocal about his fondness for Mr. Freeze. During a2022 press event with Collider, he discussed the possibility of adapting the “fantastical” cryogenic villain into a more grounded character in a realistic setting.
In my view, I just feel drawn to finding the grounded version of everything. So, to me it would be a challenge in an interesting way to try and figure out how that could happen, even the idea of something like Mr. Freeze, that such a great story, right? I think there’s actually a grounded version of that story, which could be really powerful and could be really great.
The Batman Part IIis expected to retain Matt Reeves’ signature dark and moody aesthetic, which could lend itself to a never-before-seen Mr. Freeze. The character’s most prominent live-action portrayal was in the campyBatman & Robin, where Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Mr. Freeze had an outlandish outing filled with ice-themed puns. In contrast, Reeves has nowhere to go but up, with a more serious, nuanced take. Even ifThe Batman Part IIdoesn’t include Mr. Freeze, the character could still appear in the largerThe Batman Epic Crime Saga, which already includes plans for a third film and multiple spin-offs, such asThe Penguinseries on HBO Max.
Essentially, Reeves needs to repeat what he did best withthe Riddler inThe Batman. Paul Dano’s version of the character in the 2022 film was a far cry from Jim Carrey’s over-the-top role inBatman Forever(1995). The director grounded the Riddler in reality, drawing inspiration from the Zodiac killer, and reimagined him as a dark web conspiracy figurehead. On the other hand, Carrey’s Riddler was a comedic villain who devised a scheme to “steal” Gotham’s intelligence through a mind-altering machine.
How Should Matt Reeves Change Mr. Freeze?
Mr. Freeze already has a strong, humanorigin story in the Batman universe, which is a perfect fit for the dark tone ofThe Batman Part II. For those unfamiliar, Dr. Victor Fries creates a freeze gun to preserve his terminally ill wife, Nora, until a cure can be found. However, things go tragically wrong as Nora dies later and Victor becomes a cryo suit-wearing supervillain crossing paths with Batman. This core emotional narrative isgrounded and realistic, and it doesn’t need to be altered much to align with Matt Reeves’ vision.
However, the writers can get creative with tweaking Mr. Freeze’s character traits. The villain doesn’t necessarily need to remain a genius scientist gone rogue – a cliché that’s already done and dusted in modern comic book movies. Instead, Victor Fries could take up a different profession related to cryogenics or ice. For example, he could be reimagined as a smuggler or thief, who specializes in using liquid nitrogen to execute his crimes.
The Batmandirectorcould easily use the sick wife trope to motivate his villain’s descent into wrongdoing. Dr. Fries could resort to robbery or compromise his scientific and medical ethics for a corrupt pharmaceutical company in a desperate bid to save Nora. There’s also an option to subvert this trope by making Mr. Freeze himself terminally ill. In this scenario, his actions would be driven by a selfish desire to extend his own life, even at the expense of experimenting on Gotham’s residents.
Mr. Freeze: Weapons, Appearance and Physical Traits
Moreover, Reeves should consider losing any flashy refrigerated suits, cryogenic equipment, or freeze ray guns for Mr. Freeze, as they don’t fit into his gritty world. Instead, the character’s weaponry should be quiet, subtle, and preferably chemical-based. Picture Mr. Freeze carrying a modified compressed gas cylinder containing liquid nitrogen, borrowing fromNo Country For Old Men’sAnton Chigurh and his captive bolt pistol used for cattle. The central element is ice and this approach would allow for chilling methods of attack, where victims suffer from hypothermia or frostbite, rather than simply being frozen alive.
The physical appearance and costumes would also need to go a completely different way from Schwarzenegger’s Mr. Freeze, which featured heavy prosthetic makeup and a tacky blue ice suit. The new Victor Fries should look minimal yet menacing, perhaps wearing a temperature-controlled hazmat suit that serves both as a statement piece and a functional necessity. Casting is another make-or-break factor in making Mr. Freeze grounded inThe Batman Part II, and potential choices include Bill Hader, Giancarlo Esposito, or Rami Malek.
At the risk of seeming repetitive, Matt Reeves could take the serial killer route and portray Mr. Freeze as a murderer who uses cryogenic technology to freeze and preserve the bodies of his victims. More inspiration can be found in the character’s nickname, the “Crown Prince of Chilblains.” Chilblains, or perniosis, is a painful condition caused by brief exposure to cold, which could be used to give Mr. Freeze a cold-related disease. This trait would humanize him, just likeArthur Fleck’s uncontrollable laughter inJoker. Finally, Reeves can also connect the events ofThe Batman, such as Mr. Freeze and Nora suffering the aftermath of the final flood, or something related to any ongoing storyline inThe Penguinseries.
The Batman Part II
The Batman Part II is the sequel to Matt Reeve’s The Batman, released in 2022, and will continue where the original film left off. The film shares a universe with the HBO Max original Penguin series and sees the return of the Riddler and a different incarnation of the Joker.
