In a recent interview, The Batman director Matt Reeves explained how close he was to directing an episode of spinoff Penguin starring Colin Farrell. Although he was deeply involved in the show’s development, scheduling conflicts with the Batman sequel forced him to step away from directing. Collider reported this in an interview with Reeves.
“The thing is I really wanted to do it,” Levis said, explaining that his early conversations with Farrell made it seem possible. However, due to post-production work on The Batman and script duties on Batman Part II, he was unable to commit to directing an episode. “There was a moment where we realized… I really couldn’t be the director at the same time.”
While he won’t be able to direct this time around, Levi’s hasn’t ruled out being involved in the future. “if [a] The schedule has come up… I think it’s going to be really fun,” he said, noting that he’s excited to continue working with Ferrell on “The Batman Part II.”
Reeves, who serves as executive producer of “Penguin,” also previously confirmed that Batman, played by Rob Pattinson, and The Riddler, played by Paul Dano, will not appear in the show. “Rob will not be participating in the show,” Reeves told Total Film. The series will focus on Farrell’s character’s rise to power. While Batman’s presence will be felt once the movie is released in 2022, Reeves noted, “When I do a Batman story, Batman and Bruce will be the main point of view.”
Penguins premieres on HBO Max on September 19, with a cast that includes Michael Kelly, Cristin Milioti and Clancy Brown. Ferrell described the series as “very dark” and “incredibly violent” and continues to expand the Gotham universe. You can check out GameSpot’s review here. “Batman Part II” is expected to be released in 2026.
