The Art of The Batman is now available, and some more concept designs from the mammoth 224-page companion hardcover book have been shared online (via @Bat_Source).
Previous artwork suggested that a more comic-accurate take on The Penguin was being considered at one point, but these pieces indicate that Matt Reeves and his design department were also thinking about ditching the extensive prosthetics completely and simply going with... Colin Farrell in an array of loud suits!
This would certainly have been an interesting take on the classic villain, who is usually depicted as being overweight and unattractive (at times downright grotesque). This ties into the character's massive inferiority complex, so we're not sure of a handsome incarnation of Oswald Cobblepot would have worked nearly as well.
What do you guys think? Check out the artwork below.
Have you been to see The Batman yet? If so, what did you think? You can check out our review here.
"Two years of stalking the streets as the Batman (Robert Pattinson), striking fear into the hearts of criminals, has led Bruce Wayne deep into the shadows of Gotham City. With only a few trusted allies — Alfred Pennyworth (Andy Serkis), Lt. James Gordon (Jeffrey Wright) — amongst the city’s corrupt network of officials and high-profile figures, the lone vigilante has established himself as the sole embodiment of vengeance amongst his fellow citizens."
“When a killer targets Gotham’s elite with a series of sadistic machinations, a trail of cryptic clues sends the World’s Greatest Detective on an investigation into the underworld, where he encounters such characters as Selina Kyle/aka Catwoman (Zoë Kravitz), Oswald Cobblepot/aka the Penguin (Colin Farrell), Carmine Falcone (John Turturro), and Edward Nashton/aka the Riddler (Paul Dano). As the evidence begins to lead closer to home and the scale of the perpetrator’s plans becomes clear, Batman must forge new relationships, unmask the culprit, and bring justice to the abuse of power and corruption that has long plagued Gotham City.”
The Batman is rated PG-13 for “strong violence, disturbing content, drug content, strong language, and some suggestive material.”