When THE PENGUIN was originally announced I, like many fans, figured that Robert Pattinson would cameo as Batman at some point during the series’ run. It picks up the story of THE BATMAN CRIME SAGA right after the first film’s events and leads directly into THE BATMAN: PART II. A no-brainer, right?
Not so fast.
We’re currently 6 episodes in with 2 to go and Batman has only been mentioned in the flashback/set-up sequence at the beginning of episode 1. Quite frankly, THE PENGUIN has exceeded my expectations and has been so good, that I could argue that an R-Batz (See what I did there?) appearance is not required. Hell, at this point it might feel like nothing more than cheap fan service if it happened.
Both executive producer Matt Reeves and showrunner Lauren LeFranc have said that while they considered a Bat-cameo by Pattinson, they ultimately thought it was best if it didn’t happen. That might sound like crazy talk to some fans — “Why make a Batman TV series with no Batman?!” — but it certainly looks like they knew better and were right. Creatives create because they are creative and fans should stick to fanning.
As far as the criticism/disappointment by some fans (not this one) that Batman hasn’t been seen or even mentioned. I’m sorry, that’s nothing more than petty fan nonsense at this point. Another case of fans expecting something and when it doesn’t happen the way want it, they get pissed. If someone is disappointed or complaining that Oz or anyone else hasn’t mentioned Batman and that has made you like THE PENGUIN less, well, bless their hearts.
First of all, they TOLD us that Batman isn’t going to be in it. Secondly, The Dark Knight himself said, “It’s a big city…I can’t be everywhere” so perhaps he’s busy elsewhere. Matt Reeves has said that when THE BATMAN: PART II begins, Batman is already working on another case…and that’s likely why Gordon lit up the Batsignal at the end of THE BATMAN. Wouldn’t it come off as fan-pandering if in each episode characters referenced Batman?
Furthermore, Oz and the other players in this story have too much going on to worry about Batman. “He’s not thinking about The Bat at all,” said series star Colin Farrell (via COMICBOOK.COM). “I’m sure maybe there’s a scene we did, a night where he’s wondering is that guy gonna turn up, but there’s so much shit happening to him already that the immediate present is something that he’s struggling with greatly.”
Will I be upset if we see Batman in one of the remaining 2 episodes? No. I figure that if it does happen, it’ll likely be at the end of the finale. Maybe Mr. Reeves and Ms. LeFranc were protecting fans from themselves and not spoiling a surprise appearance by Pattinson in the cape and cowl. Or maybe they were simply being straight-up honest and he ain’t in it. We’ll see what happens, but this I already know: THE PENGUIN is excellent TV and doesn’t need Batman to prop it up. – Bill “Jett” Ramey