The Penguin’s SDCC panel hints at how HBO series is handling Batman

As a hardcore Batman fan with countless hours spent immersed in the Dark Knight’s universe, I can hardly contain my excitement for HBO’s upcoming live-action crime drama, “The Penguin.” Having witnessed Matt Reeves’ brilliant reimagining of Gotham City and its denizens in “The Batman,” I’m eager to delve deeper into the criminal underworld that thrives within its shadows.

Approximately a month remains before the debut of “The Penguin,” HBO’s live-action crime drama rooted in Matt Reeves’ 2022 film “The Batman” universe. During San Diego Comic-Con on Saturday, showrunner Lauren LeFranc, executive producer Dylan Clark, and director Matt Reeves joined stars Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, and Rhenzy Feliz on stage to discuss the making of this forthcoming series.

About a week after the occurrences in “The Batman,” the story unfolds with Farrell returning as Oswald “Oz” Cobblepot, who used to work for criminal kingpin Carmine Falcone. With Falcone deceased and Gotham City in chaos due to the Riddler’s assault, “The Penguin” focuses on Oz’s plan to take over Falcone’s criminal organization from Sofia Falcone (Milioti), who is Falcone’s daughter and the chosen successor.

LeFranc’s series bridges the gap between Reeves’ 2022 film and the upcoming “The Batman – Part II,” set to start filming next year. So, an obvious query apart from figuring out how Oz gains control, is what actions Batman takes during this power struggle between Cobblepot and Sofia Falcone?

At the panel, Lefranc expressed it this way: “During the discussion, I mentioned how The Batman observes Gotham from above with a sense of detachment, while The Penguin series unfolds in the gritty and dirty streets. Regarding the latter, I believe it’s unique because it doesn’t present heroes in the traditional sense; instead, it delves into the complexities of its characters.”

Robert Pattinson’s Batman had split from Catwoman (Zoë Kravitz) the last time they were seen by audiences. He was determined to save Gotham City once again and instill hope in its citizens as they worked to rebuild. The makers of the series were tight-lipped about whether Batman would appear in “The Penguin,” but director Matt Reeves confirmed that the Penguin (Cobblepot) would be back for “The Batman: Part II.”

In other words, just as Batman mentioned in Reeves’ movie, Gotham is vast; he cannot be present everywhere simultaneously. Perhaps, Oswald’s mischief is merely an issue for Batman to address later on.

The Penguin premieres on HBO and Max on Sept. 19.

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2024-07-28 05:04