Matt Reeves' The Batman has the ability to pit Robert Pattinson's Batman against one of his most complex and dangerous adversaries: The Court of Owls. This secret society, made up of the richest of the rich in Gotham, pulls the strings behind much of the organized crime that happens in the city, and they work almost completely in the shadows, making them nearly untouchable. In the comics, the Court of Owls has existed for centuries, and Batman has had numerous run-ins with their highly trained assassins, called Talons. The Court has also already shown up in the TV show Gotham, and will be in the upcoming video game Gotham Knights, so it's fair to say they're not a deep cut, but they're one that would be welcome in the new Batman trilogy.
There is a possibility that the Court of Owls is already present in the upcoming movie's version of Gotham. The trailer clearly shows the card the Riddler's first riddle is written on has the image of an Owl on the front, making it possible that Riddler is attempting to unveil the Court before the public. Because of this, there are already theories about the Court of Owls being present in The Batman, just working behind the scenes at this point. Establishing these villains while Batman is still getting the hang of being a hero presents an exciting possibility for the future of the trilogy.
Through utilizing these villains in a much more strategic way, the Court could be incredibly threatening in the world of The Batman. As indicated by the trailer, the Riddler seems to be trying to reveal corruption to the people of Gotham, and no one is more corrupt than the Court of Owls. If the secret society is indeed who Edward Nygma (or Nashton, as he's called in the movie) is trying to expose, it sets them up perfectly to cause problems for Batman over the next few films. Establishing the Court as a complex mystery that Bruce Wayne has to peel back the layers of would allow for a storyline much more in-depth than anything that has been seen from a live-action Batman yet. What's more, the Court could also get the best of Bruce for a while, as Pattinson's Batman is still only in Year Two of being the Bat in the film, and that could lead to something else that isn't explored much in film: Batman failing.
The Court of Owls is a complex enemy that hasn't been seen on the big screen, and the possibility of them appearing in the upcoming films would give audiences an adversary that is unique and extremely unnerving. The Court would serve as a perfect framework for the trilogy, and the slow burn of their reveal would be extremely satisfying for both the viewers and Batman alike, perhaps even honing Bruce Wayne's skills as the World's Greatest Detective. By making Gotham's history play a role in the film, the past of the Court will come into play, allowing audiences and characters to see just how deep the corruption runs. The Court works extremely well alongside a young Batman as the film will be able to center the secret society that has been embedded in the city for ages, making it almost impossible for the young hero to root out.
There are so many different aspects of the Court of Owls that could be explored in this new version of Gotham City. From the possibility of Dick Grayson's destined role as a Talon, to Batman's possible brother, Lincoln March, being a member of the Court. The Court of Owls has a very deep history in Gotham, and that makes them the perfect candidate to be the biggest threat to Robert Pattinson's Bruce Wayne when more of The Batman's world is explored.
