THE BATMAN Director Matt Reeves Breaks Down Plans For THE PENGUIN Spinoff And A Future "Batverse"

THE BATMAN Director Matt Reeves Breaks Down Plans For THE PENGUIN Spinoff And A Future "Batverse"

The Batman director Matt Reeves has opened up on his plans for a "Batverse" set in his version of Gotham City, sharing new details on the approach that's being taken with The Penguin's HBO Max series...

By JoshWilding - Feb 18, 2022 08:02 AM EST
Filed Under: The Batman
Source: Entertainment Weekly

The Batman isn't part of the same world as movies and TV shows such as Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom and Peacemaker, but who cares about the DCEU when you can launch a "Batverse"?

That certainly seems to be Matt Reeves' approach, anyway, as the filmmaker has big plans to expand the Caped Crusader's world. Two spinoffs are already in the works for HBO Max, with one revolving around the Gotham City Police Department and the other focusing on The Penguin's rise to power. 

For Reeves, The Batman is the first part of a much larger plan. "What I really wanted this movie to do is create a Batverse," he tells EW. "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." 

Reeves didn't elaborate on the GCPD series he's working on, but says that The Penguin's show will be "this kind of 'American dream in Gotham' sort of story, almost like Scarface; the rise of this character who we all know will achieve mythic status. He is underestimated and he's like a time bomb."

Seeing how The Batman potentially sets the stage for these shows promises to be one of the most interesting parts of the movie, but it doesn't sound like Reeves is getting too bogged down with world-building. Whether more spinoffs could follow remains to be seen, but these two appear to be the priority for now.

There's even speculation that the World's Greatest Detective might show up in the GCPD series as it will likely take place during "Year One," so Warner Bros. clearly isn't cutting any corners with these shows.

The Batman is set to be released in theaters on March 4.

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bkmeijer2
bkmeijer2 - 2/18/2022, 8:29 AM
Now that is what I like to hear. Kinda makes me wish Batgirl was part of this universe. About time we get a proper batfamily on screen (that isn't the CW Gotham Knights show)
DudeGuy
DudeGuy - 2/18/2022, 8:32 AM
@bkmeijer - the thought of CW’s Gotham Knights gives me the shits
GhostDog
GhostDog - 2/18/2022, 8:33 AM
When it’s all said and done we should get most of the bat family. Doesn’t seem like we’re gonna get all the villains unfortunately but there’s no batverse without the fam

TheManWithoutFear
TheManWithoutFear - 2/18/2022, 8:34 AM
But didn't Gotham already tell a story of Penguin rising to power? I'm not sure cause i didn't watch it haha. I didn't care about Oswald then and i still do not.

Looking forward to The Batman though
KWilly
KWilly - 2/18/2022, 9:18 AM
@TheManWithoutFear - Gotham went as in depth with the Penguin as anyone would ever need.

The fact they're doing it again, and so soon, is kinda crazy
TheManWithoutFear
TheManWithoutFear - 2/18/2022, 9:30 AM
@KWilly - It's almost like Matt Reeves has never heard of Gotham and everybody is too scared to tell him haha
BestAtWhatIDo
BestAtWhatIDo - 2/18/2022, 8:40 AM
Like the idea of the Batman series tangentially touching on characters that then get better fleshed out in other media. It should be a contained trilogy with a ton of bit-parts and cameos.
JustBrootal
JustBrootal - 2/18/2022, 8:51 AM
and you get a spin off, and you get a spin off!
keithvw
keithvw - 2/18/2022, 9:02 AM
I may be in the minority, but every time I hear that a movie is meant to introduce some kind of universe, I wince because it sounds like the movie is a wildly expensive commercial meant to sell the next movie/TV series/spinoff.

How about focusing on making one great movie. No spin offs, no shared universe. It's the approach they took with Joker and (whether or not you or I like the movie) the payoff was massive.

Movies should be events, not the first chapter in a series of never ending chapters.

(James Bond may be the lone exception to this idea, because the people behind the franchise understand that, despite the numerous and unending entries, each film needs to preserve that event quality. Preserving that quality means no spinoffs, no TV series, no other place to see James Bond unless it's a James Bond movie. Interestingly, they the team behind James Bond has been okay with Bond video games.)
connorblaze
connorblaze - 2/18/2022, 9:03 AM
I really like what they’re doing with Riddler but have to say so far I don’t get what they’re doing with Penguin. All that makeup to make a great actor like Farrell look like… some everyday old man schlub with a scar? Who it seems acts like a stereotypical Italian American mob boss? Why not just hire an old dude whose actually an Italian mob boss type then give him the scar? If it was that he is doing something amazingly unique with the voice or mannerisms or whatever, and the performance was so good they had to have him specifically, sure. But it seems like they would have had to look for someone young and handsome and say ‘we’re going to age him up and go for a makeup oscar’ whoch seems so pointless. I know, I haven’t seen it yet. Just seems wierd and overcomplicating things for the sake of it. Like hiring Brad Pitt to play Tony Soprano and using makeup. Sure you can, but… why?
hazapez
hazapez - 2/18/2022, 9:05 AM
while i appreciate these shows about side characters being like a character study of sorts, i cant help but feel that at least the mcu paints a larger interconnected canvas of things. peacemaker, sure, it was great tv. but on the whole, i want something going as far as the main story.
dragon316
dragon316 - 2/18/2022, 9:06 AM
They got lucky with joker let’s not push it plus penguin seems to be boring character do solo movie with
Whaley87
Whaley87 - 2/18/2022, 9:20 AM
@dragon316 - Penguin is getting an HBO Max series, it's right there in the subheading. READ!
grif
grif - 2/18/2022, 9:26 AM
everyone is saying yey woohoo yey like reeves will be directing all of it



McMurdo
McMurdo - 2/18/2022, 9:31 AM
Me likesy
Batdan66
Batdan66 - 2/18/2022, 10:04 AM
If anyones read; Penguin: Pain and Prejudice, you know how good a Penguin spin off could be
DTor91
DTor91 - 2/18/2022, 1:02 PM
@Batdan66 - Such a great story that I feel too often goes under the radar.
Batdan66
Batdan66 - 2/19/2022, 1:24 PM
@DTor91 - Agreeed!
Spawnnn
Spawnnn - 2/18/2022, 10:56 AM
A Scarface-like show about Pinguin with mo[frick]ing Colin Farrell and a nice production value of HBO Max is definitely something I would watch.
99OPTIMISTPRIME
99OPTIMISTPRIME - 2/18/2022, 11:27 AM
I'm curious what his level of commitment will be, to a Reevesverse long-term. He's already devoted so much time into the Batman franchise. Would he be willing to bring other directors in? Will he start on the The Batman sequel right away, or will he step away and do other projects in-between, like Nolan did?
Demigods
Demigods - 2/18/2022, 11:39 AM
I could see these spinoffs being HBO MAX shows, but I don't think I'd be interested in a Penguin spinoff movie... like at all, really.

who knows tho
Lokiwasright
Lokiwasright - 2/18/2022, 12:10 PM
Everyone gets a spinoff

Drace24
Drace24 - 2/18/2022, 1:51 PM
Guys! Stop! Make ONE movie! Make ONE good movie, then think about turning it into a shared universe. This is exactly what all the previous failed attempts to imitate the MCU did wrong. They try to sell a universe first and movies second, while Marvel's secret sauce has always been the exact opposite!
2013venjix
2013venjix - 2/19/2022, 12:44 PM
@Drace24 - Don't jump to conclusions.
Drace24
Drace24 - 2/20/2022, 7:44 AM
@2013venjix - What conclusions did I jump to?
2013venjix
2013venjix - 2/20/2022, 9:42 AM
@Drace24 - No, not you (apologies that I miscommented) and also that's the smartest thing you've said 'cause this film, it's jumping to conclusions.

It's not out yet & it needed to be successful before turning it into a shared universe.
2013venjix
2013venjix - 2/20/2022, 9:43 AM
One cluster after another. 🙄
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