Few shows this year have caused as much of a stir asThe Penguin. The HBO series received consistent acclaim while it was on the air, and it seemed to win over both die-hard DC Comics fans and casual viewers alike. That said,The Penguinnever really got around to answering the one question fans kept asking across its eight episodes. That question, of course, was: Where’s Batman?
Oz Cobb(Colin Farrell) causes some noisy trouble inThe Penguin, but his actions seemingly never catch the attention of Bruce Wayne (Robert Pattinson). That’s a reality even the series’ biggest fans have found hard to accept. Those viewers will, therefore, likely be curious to hearThe Batmandirector andPenguinexecutive producer Matt Reeves’ long-awaited explanation for the Dark Knight’s absence from the HBO series.
In an interview withDigital Spy, Reeves revealed that Batman is too caught up dealing with the aftermath of The Riddler’s attacks at the end ofThe Batmanto pay enough attention to Oz Cobb inThe Penguin. “This was a time of great turmoil in the city, it’s literally the week after what happened,” Reeves noted. “Much of the city is in desperation, so police can’t get everywhere, there’s crime everywhere, it’s a very, very dangerous time. [Batman’s] out there trying to grapple with the aftermath of everything that happened, which to some degree he blames himself for.”
The notion that Batman is simply too busy to address Oz’s criminal ascension may not satisfy certainPenguinfans, especially considering that Oz’s war with Sofia Falcone (Cristin Milioti) ultimately leads to multiple shootouts, deaths, and a high-profile bombing. To be fair to Reeves, though,The Batmandoes end with its hero deciding to take a more active role in helping the city actually heal from its many setbacks, scandals, and losses. Him dedicating his first few weeks after The Riddler’s attacks to helping Gotham and its officials get back on track makes a fair amount of sense with that in mind.
While Batman never actually appears inThe Penguin, either, the HBO series’ final shot does show the Bat Signal lighting up not far from Oz’s new penthouse apartment. That image suggests that Oz hasn’t just slipped out of Batman’s view. On the contrary, it’s possible his actions throughoutThe Penguinactually did catch the Dark Knight’s attention after all. Either way, viewers will likely get to see his response to Oz’s rise whenThe Batman Part IIfinally hits theaters in 2026.
The Penguinis now streaming on Max.The Batman Part IIis set to hit theaters on Aug 15, 2025.
