The Batman: New deleted scene features face-off between Robert Pattinson and Barry Keoghan's Joker

A deleted clip from director Matt Reeves' superhero epic The Batman has been unveiled. The sequence sees Robert Pattinson's Caped Crusader facing off against Barry Keoghan's Joker, the iconic enemy.

As Reeves detailed to Variety in a recent interview, the scenario follows Batman's revelation that the Riddler had murdered the Gotham City police commissioner, leaving behind another of the Riddler's cryptic messages addressed to Batman. Unnerved by the Riddler's interest in him, Batman begins to investigate the Riddler's motivations.

The filmmaker liked the idea of suggesting to the audience that Gotham is rife with villains just on the edge of the story and that Keoghan's Joker is one of the first enemies Batman captures.

Reeves noted that one realizes that they have a relationship and that this guy obviously did something, and Batman somehow got him into Arkham. In the scene, the Joker informs Batman that it's almost their anniversary.

Batman presses Joker for explanations as to why Riddler is acting the way he is and why he is leaving notes for Batman at every crime scene.

"Perhaps he's one of your fans?" According to the Joker, maybe he has a grudge against you as well. Maybe you're the star of the show. "

The scenario builds to a climax with the Joker teasing Batman with the uncomfortable knowledge that a part of him agrees with the Riddler's decision to execute corrupt Gotham officials. Deep down, he feels Batman is just afraid because he doesn't know if he's right.

While this scene was cut, Reeves kept a follow-up scene at the end of Batman in which the Joker and the Riddler meet in adjacent Arkham State Hospital cells.

Reeves co-wrote The Batman with Peter Craig, and the film also features Zoë Kravitz as Selina Kyle, aka Catwoman. While Paul Dano, Jeffrey Wright, John Turturro, Peter Sarsgaard, Andy Serkis, and Colin Farrell play supporting roles.