Since the release of Matt Reeve's critically acclaimed The Batman, fans have been eager for more. A sequel has been confirmed and is in development, but before that, we will get The Penguin. The miniseries will be the second installment of Reeve's universe. Colin Farrell will reprise his role as Oswald Cobblepot as we see his rise to power within the criminal underworld.
Farrell's portrayal of the character was fresh and much more grounded than previous incarnations of Penguin, which worked very well in Reeve's gritty Gotham City. Farrell is more than capable of carrying a show on his own, and we can expect him to shine again in the upcoming series, but when it comes to anything involving Batman, fans want to see the caped crusader.
There have been rumors that Robert Pattinson could appear in the upcoming miniseries. It was even suggested that because of legal reasons, Pattinson might only be able to appear as Bruce Wayne. However, James Gunn said this wasn't true, which caused more speculation about Pattinson making an appearance.
But it is unconfirmed, and so far, most details about The Penguin have been kept under wraps. Recently we saw an in-production teaser that gave us the best look at the show so far. But no Batman. So, will Robert Pattinson's Batman make an appearance in the show? And what role could he play?
The Shadows
The opening monologue scene in The Batman was arguably the best in the entire film. It set us up for the type of world we were in and, more importantly, how Batman fit in within that world. Criminals cowered at the sight of shadows. The thought of Batman alone was enough to strike fear. It gave the impression that Batman was almost like the boogeyman for criminals, and it set the tone for the film.
It makes sense for The Penguin to take the same approach as it aims to expand the Bat-verse. Of course, with this only being a miniseries, if Batman does appear, it will most likely only be one appearance, as the focus of the show will obviously be on Farrell's Penguin. But we could still see the shadows and fear implemented, and Pattinson's presence as Batman wouldn't even be needed.
If used correctly and going off the film, it could be a very impactful method of building an atmosphere in the show. It wouldn't only be a sense of fear for criminals, but it would create a lot of suspense for the viewers, resulting in a satisfying payoff if Batman does make an appearance.
While we will likely see a similar approach to Batman as we did in the film, we could see a new side too. At the end of The Batman, there was a closing monologue where we saw a change in Batman's beliefs. Throughout the film, he is fueled by vengeance, but seeing his actions' effect on the city, he realizes he needs to be more. He needed to be hope. Reeve's has said he wants to dive deeper into characters' emotions in the sequel, and this miniseries could be a could starting point.
Since The Penguin will follow straight from the first film, we could see how Batman's new mindset affects the city. And lay the groundwork for the type of Batman we can expect in the sequel. Of course, it could just come in the form of people talking about him, Batman showing up himself, or even Bruce Wayne showing up.
Bruce Wayne
One of the few criticisms of The Batman was Pattinson's portrayal of Bruce Wayne. It was different from the Playboy billionaire we have seen in other adaptions. It was a much more quiet depiction. He preferred to be a loner and stay out of the limelight. His role as Batman had consumed him so much that he didn't realize the good he could do as Bruce Wayne. It split opinion among fans, but the depiction left room for this version of Bruce Wayne to grow into the one we are more familiar with.
Matt Reeve's has said The Batman 2 will keep Bruce Wayne as the focus. This indicates we will see more of Bruce's character development, and he will take advantage of his real identity and the perks that come with it. The Penguin could be the first time we see that. Since Batman has changed his mindset from one of vengeance to one of hope, this could mean we see more of the good Bruce can do.
We have already seen Bruce interact with Falcone in The Batman, and since Penguin will be on the rise in this show, we could see something similar. Gotham is a corrupt city, and Bruce and Penguin could find themselves locking horns at some high-class event. Or, on a smaller scale, the show could allude to what Bruce Wayne and Wayne Enterprises are doing the help the city. It could even be possible that some of their employees are corrupt and are involved with Penguin.
While Farrell and his Penguin will make for compelling viewing, and his performance in The Batman was just the tip of the iceberg, it would be a shame if we didn't get some moments where he and Batman or Bruce Wayne clash. But, even though it is unconfirmed, it is hard to imagine Pattinson not making an appearance. No matter how big of a part he plays in this miniseries, it will be interesting to see how it plays out and how it leads us to the sequel.
The Penguin is set to release in early 2024.