Sebastian Stan will officially appear in The Batman Part II as Harvey Dent, making this highly anticipated film even more exciting. However, while fans eagerly await this 2027 release, Matt Reeves has the perfect Batman show on Prime Video to check out in the meantime, which already has another season in the works.
Despite The Batman 2 casting multiple villains, Sebastian Stan’s Harvey Dent has attracted the most interest by far. Not only is Stan perfect for the role, but seeing how Matt Reeves opts to portray this classic comic book character alongside how and when he gets his injury creates so many theories that make the upcoming movie a must-watch.
Interestingly though, we may have gotten a rough insight into what Harvey’s arc could look like thanks to Reeves’ other unmissable project — Batman: Caped Crusader. Season 2 of the Batman show is rumored to release in 2026, and with Reeves acting as an executive producer, it’s a series you won’t want to miss ahead of The Batman Part II.
Batman: Caped Crusader Is A Spiritual Successor To Batman: The Animated Series
While Batman: Caped Crusader doesn’t have any direct ties to The Batman other than Matt Reeves’ small involvement in the show, it does act as a spiritual prequel to Batman: The Animated Series. The 90s cartoon is often regarded as one of the best animated shows ever made, making it no surprise that DC wanted to try and replicate it.
Having been the creative mind behind BTAS, Bruce Timm has worked on numerous Batman projects since, but Batman: Caped Crusader feels the most similar. Flaunting a 1940s aesthetic, the animated show adopts the same dark and gritty tone that made BTAS so iconic, all while taking some big risks.
Caped Crusader offers some drastically different takes on the franchise’s most iconic villains, with the likes of the Penguin and Harley Quinn feeling completely fresh, while characters such as Harvey Bullock and Renee Montoya also get much bigger roles than they do in most other projects.
More obscure foes like Firebug, Onomatopoeia, and Gentleman Ghost also feature throughout the series, helping the show stand out for better or worse. Although not every episode stuck the landing, Batman: Caped Crusader is far better than the harsh reviews suggest, and it is certainly worth investing in, especially if you enjoyed Batman: The Animated Series.
Harvey Dent Is The Most Interesting Character In Batman: Caped Crusader
Among the show’s diverse group of unique characters, one stands out above the rest — Harvey Dent. Often considered one of Batman’s greatest rogues, Harvey once again shines in Caped Crusader, as he appears sporadically throughout season 1 before becoming the focal point of the final few episodes.
Like in most other Batman media, Harvey starts as a political candidate with a genuine desire to do good before transitioning into Two-Face, but this interpretation is a little different. Right from the start, it’s clear this version of Harvey is more mischievous and flawed, as he was frequently willing to bend the rules to fuel his Mayoral campaign.
This made his journey into villainy feel more natural, despite it still being heartbreaking. Just as he was in the classic 90s cartoon, Dent was a true standout in Caped Crusader season 1, and the last two episodes were easily the best since they focused on him becoming Two-Face, another reason why the show is a great successor to Batman: The Animated Series.
The fact that he was also a long-term friend of Bruce helped audiences care about him in the first place, and he’s now the project’s best villain going forward. Sure, the addition of the Joker may change that, but anytime Harvey was on-screen, Caped Crusader was more interesting, setting up a thrilling Two-Face arc when the series returns for season 2.
Plot details about The Batman Part II have been kept under wraps, but with Sebastian Stan confirmed as Harvey Dent, the movie may opt to shift its focus to this character, just like Batman: Caped Crusader. Although his personality and future may be different, Harvey’s overall role in the projects could wind up being much closer than you think.
Assuming The Batman Part II revolves around one of its several other villains, Harvey may appear as Gotham’s lovable District Attorney and a possible friend of Bruce Wayne, playing a smaller role in the early portions. However, during the film’s final act, we may get to see more of him, setting up his next steps in Matt Reeves’ universe.
Whether his life-altering injury occurs in the movie or not is still anyone’s guess, but even if it doesn’t, The Batman 2 could set up a Harvey Dent show similar to The Penguin, or the next film. Whatever the case, giving Harvey a larger spotlight as the story unfolds feels like a strong idea, with Caped Crusader already proving this formula works.
The long development of The Batman Part II leaves some doubt about what the long-term plans look like for Matt Reeves’ universe, but it’s hard to imagine Sebastian Stan’s Harvey Dent won’t be a major part of what comes next, and if Batman: Caped Crusader is anything to go by, the character’s future is certainly worth getting excited about.