First Look: ‘Court of Fowls’ Sign Confirms Court of Owls in ‘The Batman: Part II’

Avatar photoRobert Milaković
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Gotham City has long served as a treasure trove for Easter eggs, and Matt Reeves’ sequel is no exception. With snow-covered streets, enigmatic working titles, and an ever-expanding cast list, ‘The Batman: Part II‘ has been feeding fan theories for months without revealing much.

This secrecy has turned every piece of set footage into a tantalizing clue, and the latest might be the most significant yet. Recent photos and videos from the London set showcase a dramatic protest scene, featuring placards, white masks, and a crowd surrounding what appears to be Robert Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne being escorted through the turmoil.

Among the signs held by protesters is one that reads “Court of Fowls,” a clever nod to the Court of Owls, one of Batman’s more recent and enigmatic comic book adversaries. Coupled with several demonstrators wearing pale, owl-like masks reminiscent of the Court’s assassins, the Talons, this sign has fans convinced that the secretive society is set to make its live-action debut.

This isn’t the first indication pointing in that direction. Production sources previously revealed a working title for the sequel, “Semper Vigilans,” which translates to “always vigilant.” This phrase closely aligns with the ominous nursery rhyme associated with the Court of Owls in the comics, warning that the group “watches all the time” from its “shadowed perch” above Gotham.

The protest scene was filmed outside St Paul’s Cathedral, which is reportedly doubling as the Gotham Bar Association, further fueling speculation that District Attorney Harvey Dent will play a significant role in the narrative. Nearby filming also took place at Freemasons’ Hall, a location previously featured in the James Bond film ‘Spectre,’ and its grand, secretive atmosphere has only heightened Court of Owls theories.

In addition to the “Court of Fowls” sign, other placards at the scene addressed wealth inequality in Gotham, with messages criticizing the rich getting richer while the poor are left behind. This thematic element aligns perfectly with the Court of Owls, a group in the comics comprised of some of the city’s wealthiest and most influential families who have secretly manipulated Gotham from the shadows for generations.

Reeves has expressed a desire to explore new territory with the sequel’s antagonist. In a conversation with Josh Horowitz at the Emmys red carpet, the director mentioned that the villain was specifically chosen to delve deeper into Bruce Wayne’s backstory, adding that whatever he has planned has never really been done in a Batman movie before. Since then, he has kept the specifics under wraps, intensifying speculation with each new set photo.

Whether the “Court of Fowls” sign is a genuine confirmation or merely an elaborate red herring designed to mislead observant fans, it’s precisely the kind of detail that thrives in the information void surrounding this production. Reeves has demonstrated with ‘The Batman’ that he is willing to explore aspects of Gotham’s mythology that previous films have overlooked, and the Court of Owls would certainly fit that bill.

As filming continues across various UK locations, more clues are likely to emerge before production wraps. For now, all eyes are on Gotham’s expanding list of secret societies, corrupt institutions, and suspicious protest signs.

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