- The Batman spin-off series The Penguin recent came to an end
- Producer Matt Reeves has revealed why Batman was absent
- Provides update on The Batman: Part II
The Batman director Matt Reeves has revealed why the caped crusader was suspiciously absent in spin-off series The Penguin.
Starring Colin Farrell in the lead role, The Penguin recently aired its series finale. The show spanned eight episodes, chronicling Oswald Cobblepot’s grapple for power in Gotham City.
The series is set in the immediate aftermath of the events of Reeves’ 2022 movie. In The Batman, Robert Pattinson’s Batman grappled with Paul Dano’s Riddler. When all was said and done, Gotham found itself flooded and in a state of chaos.
Read more: Everything we know about The Batman – Part 2
It’s here where we find Cobblepot seizing the city’s continued unrest to topple fellow gangsters. Speaking of which, the show also introduced us to Cristin Militia’s Sofia Falcone who quickly became a fan-favorite.
While many were hoping for a brief cameo appearance from Pattinson’s Dark Knight, they were ultimately left wanting. Now, Reeves has shed some light on why Bruce Wayne decided to sit this crime story out. At the same time, he’s hinted at a difficult future ahead for his point-headed hero.
“He blames himself”
Speaking to Digital Spy, Reeves said Batman “blames himself” for what happened to Gotham and is grappling with that reality.
“This was a time of great turmoil in the city, it’s literally the week after what happened,” Reeves told the outlet. “Much of the city is in desperation, so police can’t get everywhere, there’s crime everywhere, it’s a very, very dangerous time.
“[Batman’s] out there trying to grapple with the aftermath of everything that happened, which to some degree he blames himself for.”
Reading between the lines, it seems like Batman was simply too busy putting out other fires to interfere with the Penguin’s exploits in his stand-alone series. Elsewhere, Reeves also suggested that the character isn’t out of the woods yet.
When we meet the character again in The Batman – Part II, the director says he will be finding it “very hard to be Batman” following the extensive fallout caused by the Riddler’s games.
When is The Batman – Part II released?
The Batman – Part II is set for release on 2 October 2026 although little is currently known about its plot, storyline or which characters may appear.
As The Penuin came to a close, audiences glimpsed a familiar bat signal in Gotham’s sky, reminding them that the city’s protector is still out there doing his job.
Meanwhile, the show also contained references to the return of Selina Kyle AKA Catwoman, a character played by Zoe Zoë Kravitz in Reeves’ first film.
While Reeves didn’t direct The Penguin, he has been confirmed to return for The Batman – Part II. As has Pattinson and his Part One co-stars Andy Serkis as butler Alfred Pennyworth and Jeffrey Wright as Commissioner Gordon.
