Will Robert Pattinson suit up as Batman in The Penguin series? That’s the question a lot of fans have been asking, especially after the huge success of The Batman.
With a world this gritty and crime-ridden, surely the Caped Crusader would make an appearance, right?
Well, the answer might not be what some were hoping for.
No, Robert Pattinson will not appear in The Penguin. Matt Reeves, the mastermind behind The Batman universe, has confirmed that while Batman’s presence is felt, Pattinson himself won’t step into the series. Reeves and the creative team want the show to focus entirely on Oswald “Oz” Cobblepot (Colin Farrell) as he claws his way to power in Gotham’s criminal underworld.
Why No Batman?
The Penguin is set right after the events of The Batman, but instead of continuing Bruce Wayne’s journey, the show zooms in on the underbelly of Gotham.
According to Reeves, he decided not to include Pattinson because Batman’s presence would overshadow the series’ primary focus: the rise of the Penguin.
Reeves mentioned, “Rob is not going to be in the show. I’d rather take the Band-Aid off now.”
Colin Farrell backed this up, explaining that Batman doesn’t fit the story’s timeline or focus, which centers on Gotham’s crime scene post-Falcone’s death.
He wants “The Penguin” to waddle on its own two feet. It’s all about Oz Cobblepot’s rise to power in Gotham’s seedy underbelly.
Throwing Batman into the mix?
That’d be like bringing a batarang to a mob war.
“We felt the best way to do this was to go on a grand exploration of a guy grabbing for power in this moment,” Reeves explained.
Translation: This is Penguin’s time to shine (or scheme, more likely).
But don’t think Batman’s completely MIA. His presence looms large over Gotham, like a bat-shaped shadow. The city’s still reeling from the Riddler’s flood, and whispers of the Caped Crusader echo through the streets.
Here’s the kicker: Some folks are saying Batman’s gone missing. A political cartoon in the show’s promo materials shows a dejected Commissioner Gordon by the Bat-Signal. “It’s been weeks, sir…” an officer tells him.
With Gotham reeling from Riddler’s attacks and the power vacuum left by Falcone, Penguin’s rise is something Batman would certainly care about, but he’s dealing with even bigger issues, like rebuilding the city after its catastrophic flooding.
What do you think? Would you prefer to see Batman popping up in The Penguin, or does the Penguin deserve the spotlight all to himself?
Averagebeing’s Take: Sometimes, the absence of a hero can be just as powerful as their presence. By keeping Batman in the shadows, “The Penguin” might just show us a side of Gotham we’ve never seen before – one where the villains think they’ve got free rein, and that, my friends, could make for some deliciously dark TV.
