While much of the talk in the film industry has been on Matt Reeves’The Batman, the new adaptation of the iconic DC hero set to release in theatres in early March, the director is already beginning to discuss details about the upcoming Penguin spin-off series.
Following many successful (Christopher Nolan’sThe Dark KnightTrilogy) and also disastrous (Batman Forever,Batman & Robin) Batman films, the caped crusader returns in Reeves' neo-noir / detective vision, which will follow the conflicted hero in his second year of fighting crime in Gotham City, as he is now forced to track down a serial killer known as the Riddler. Taking place outside the DCEU,The Batmanwill kick off a new Bat-verse, with two direct sequels and two other spin-off series for HBO Max in the works.
RELATED:The Batman Star Colin Farrell On How Penguin Will Be Different
One seriesfollows Colin Farrell’s Penguinand is said to have aScarface-esque tone to it all. In Entertainment Weekly’s new digital cover story, Reeves spoke about his original idea for expanding the story that is depicted inThe Batman, also adding how Gotham’s story will never come to an end. “What I really wanted this movie to do is create a Batverse," Reeves shared. “You don’t do a story and go, ‘This is Chapter 1’ because you might not get to do Chapter 2. So, the story had to stand on its own. But the thing about it is that the Bat world is so rich with character that as you’re starting to come to an end, you can already start thinking about the next thing. Because the idea, of course, is that Gotham’s story never ends.”
One of those exciting expanded stories will revolve around the Penguin, an idea Reeves had very early on in production and one that HBO Max thought highly of. “I was thrilled by that,” Reeves continued. “I said [to HBO Max], ‘To be honest with you, the thing that was going to be the seeds of what I thought the next story could be in terms of the Penguin is that I saw there being this kind of ‘American dream in Gotham’ sort of story, almost likeScarface; the rise of this character who we all know will achieve mythic status.’ He is underestimated and he’s like a time bomb… They were like, ‘Oh my God, we’re in!’ And that was really exciting because, by that point, Colin had already given life to this character.”
With so many villains scattered throughout the story, Reeves believes that the two additional series will help develop many of them and be more character focused than a feature could ever be. Until those spin-off stories come,The Batmanis ready to captivate fansin just a few more weeks.
The film starsRobert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne/Batman, Paul Dano as the Riddler, Zoë Kravitz as Selina Kyle/Catwoman, Jeffrey Wright as James Gordon, Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth, John Turturro as Carmine Falcone, and Peter Sarsgaard as district attorney Gil Colson. Along with directing, the film is based on a screenplay Reeves co-wrote with Peter Craig (The Town,Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 & 2,Top Gun: Maverick).
The Batmanarrives in theaters on July 15, 2025, and on HBO Max on April 19.
MORE:The Batman: Why Its Relatively Small Budget Is A Big Deal
