Summary
Director Matt Reeves and his producing partner Dylan Clark discussed their DC expansion outside James Gunn’s. The duo said they would call itBatman Epic Crime Saga.
Reeves and Clark worked together for Robert Pattinson’sThe Batman, released in 2022. While waiting for its sequel,The Batman Part II, which is due in 2026, Reeves shared how he and Clark planned to produce a spinoff series focusing on the Gotham City Police Department withBoardwalk Empirecreator Terence Winter. They also experimented with the Arkham Asylum concept and their exploration led them to the creation ofThe Penguin, the first spinoff fromThe Batmanin their very own universe.
Reeves and Clark are working on a universe of movies.Their universe, a DC expansion outside Gunn’s, is called Batman Epic Crime Saga and it is inspired by Pattinson’sThe Batman. Reeves toldEntertainment Weekly, “As we were writing the movie [The Batman], I was like, ‘Hey, you know what? I think there are some cool shows that we could do. It was actually why I wanted to make our deal at Warner Bros.” The execs at HBO were interested in their idea and even offered to guide them. Reeves told them they wanted to “lean harder into the marquee characters.” Their first two initial concepts did not materialize, but the elements of the Gotham City Police Department led them to the development of the drama seriesThe Penguin, starring Colin Farrell.
Reeves revisited the surprising twist in the film wherePaul Dano’s Riddlerseemed to be pointing at Farrell’s the Penguin as the informant when it was actually Carmine Falcone (John Turturro). The director and producer said it was a significant scene, and while not much was known about Oz Cobb, aka the Penguin, in the movie, it was something they wanted to explore in a spinoff. Reeves explained, “This movie creates a power vacuum, and because Penguin is so underestimated, people don’t really see who he is. We wanted it to be, not in a grandiose way, but in a mythic Shakespearean way, this kind of great tale.” Theanticipated HBO seriescenters on the intense power vacuum following Falcone’s death. Lead writer and showrunner Lauren LeFranc said the series will highlight Oz’s world, and fanswill get to see a closer look at Penguinand how dangerous of a foe he is. LeFranc said, “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 may’t predict what he’s going to do.”
There is no doubt that Reeves and Clark’s new universe is promising.The Penguin, starring Farrell, is among the most anticipated series. The Penguin has received multiple interpretations over the years, with several actors portraying the supervillain, including Burgess Meredith (Batman), Wayne Knight (Harley Quinn), Robin Lord Taylor (Gotham), and Tom Kenny (Batman Ninja), to name a few. However, Farrell’s version received praise because it was edgy and serious. Many were also impressed with his line delivery and facial expressions. LeFranc encouraged fans to watch the series because it is “the bridge between thetwo [Batman] films.”
Reeves and Clark have spun their projects so well that viewers have to follow each program to get to know each character on a deeper level. The Batman Epic Crime Saga universe is promising and might thrive because its Bat expansion will continue. Clark teased that they are working on another TV exploration and everything is tied toBatman. They are looking into thevillains surrounding the Caped Crusader, including the crimes that must be navigated in Gotham, as they figure out the best areas to explore. This expansion of theBatmanuniverse will surely appeal to the ardent fans of the Dark Knight who wish to learn everything about the superhero in-depth.
The Penguinwill start streaming on HBO and Max on Jun 18, 2025.
