Warning: The following article contains spoilers for The Batman.
When visiting The official website for Matt Reeves' The Batman, fans now get a message from the Riddler. He claims to be "It's safe here. With my new acquaintance. We hope to see you soon "and provides the option to download a number of files. When the page is refreshed, however, a separate message displays, applauding the visitor and offering a second incentive. This is a new Riddler cipher that enthusiasts have translated. "Gotham likes a comeback," it says. It also includes the words "ha ha" written in the margins, implying that the Riddler's return may involve the Joker.
One nice touch from the recent #RataAlada update: yes, the message spells "GOTHAM LOVES A COMEBACK"...but there's also fainter text going "HA HA HA HA HA" in the background. -mja pic.twitter.com/PdXoave3Wy
— argn (@argn) March 11, 2022
The Riddler is in Arkham Asylum after Batman stops his crime spree as The Batman concludes. An anonymous prisoner in the cell next to him speaks to the Riddler and tells him, "Gotham likes a comeback." In addition, the unidentified individual chuckles in a way that quickly identifies him as the Joker. The website holding the message is an in-character website for the Riddler, and it is presented at the very end of the film's credits.
Director and writer Matt Reeves has stated that the "Unnamed Arkham prisoner" played by Barry Keoghan is the Joker, but not the Joker that everyone expects. Instead, Reeves refers to him as a "pre-Joker Joker," implying that the character is still in the early phases of his journey. Despite the indications, Reeves declined to clarify whether or not the Joker will appear in a sequel. "I'm not sure if the Joker will be in the next film," Reeves said, "but I can tell you that what you're seeing is an early days version of this figure, and danger, as usual, is building in Gotham."