EW.COM has a cool new article on THE PENGUIN, which will debut on HBO and MAX in September.  Here are a few highlights on “The Next Chapter of THE BATMAN SAGA“…

  • Matt Reeves and Dylan Clark say THE PENGUIN is part of a bigger universe that began with THE BATMAN in 2022 and there are plans for more films and TV series.  Says Clark about the expansion of THE BATMAN SAGA, “There’s another television exploration we’re going to do.  We’re looking at this entire world as it relates to who Batman is — the antagonists around them, all the crime that has to be navigated in the city– and trying to figure out where are the areas that are best to explore.”
  • Cristin Milioti’s Sofia Falcone shows up after a stint in Arkham Asylum and adds a “touch of madness to the proceedings.”
  • Showrunner and lead writer Lauren LeFranc describes it as “…a SCARFACE story.  It’s a rise-to-power story of Oz before he really makes it to the top.”  She adds that it is set 1 week after THE BATMAN and “We’re in Oz’s world.  We’re living in the underbelly of the city. Oz is a mover and a shaker. He can’t always be trusted. He’s very smart and very methodical, but he’s also extremely impulsive. You can’t predict what he’s going to do.”
  • Elements of a Gotham Police Department series — which is no longer happening — made their way into THE PENGUIN.
  • And as previously stated, THE PENGUIN leads “almost directly” into THE BATMAN: PART II, per LeFranc.
Cristin Miolti as Sofia Falcone, Colin Farrell as Oz Cobblepot in THE PENGUIN. (HBO via EW.COM)

I have A LOT of thoughts about the new info found in this article, so stay tuned to the next BOF SOCIAL HOUR podcast.  I will say I’m 100% on board and I am really looking forward to the further expansion of THE BATMAN universe.  AND…

I wouldn’t worry about THE BATMAN SAGA being on borrowed time.  WB and the DC Studios would be insane to throw a monkey wrench into Matt Reeves’ Bat-plans (that predate the James Gunn/Peter Safran new DCU).  Warner wants — no, NEEDS — to be in the Matt Reeves business. And I’m sure they need him more than he needs them (i.e. Christopher Nolan).

CLICK HERE for the full article. – Bill “Jett” Ramey