Matt Reeves on The Penguin, Batman Influences, and The Batman Part II

Matt Reeves, the visionary director behind the 2022 film The Batman, has been making waves with his latest project, the HBO miniseries The Penguin. This spin-off, starring Colin Farrell as Oswald Cobblepot, serves as an origin story for the iconic villain, charting his journey before he becomes the criminal kingpin known in the DC comics.

Reeves revealed that his inspiration for The Penguin came from a variety of sources, including DC comics and the Telltale Batman video game series. The Telltale games, particularly the depiction of the Penguin character, influenced Reeves’ vision for Colin Farrell’s Oz Cobb. Reeves noted that the Telltale version of the Penguin, with his handsome yet vulnerable appearance, was a key inspiration for the character’s design in the series.

The miniseries, which concluded its first season on November 10, 2024, has been a critical and commercial success. It provides a gritty, street-level view of Gotham City, humanizing the characters and making the stakes feel real. The show’s finale sets the stage for the upcoming sequel, The Batman Part II, with the Bat Signal appearing in the sky, hinting at the impending arrival of justice for Oz Cobb.

Colin Farrell, who plays Oz Cobb, has expressed his curiosity about the direction of The Batman Part II, despite not having read the script yet. Director Matt Reeves has teased that the sequel will continue the “epic crime saga” started in The Batman and The Penguin. The film is currently set to release on October 2, 2026.

Reeves’ vision for the Batman franchise is heavily influenced by neo-noir detective cinema and New Hollywood. He has drawn parallels between his work and classic films like Chinatown and All the President's Men, indicating that The Batman Part II could explore fresh ways to tell familiar villain stories by drawing from the rich history of political thrillers.