The Penguin: Robert Pattinson’s Batman Cameo Almost Happened
The HBO series “The Penguin” has emerged as a standout success, showcasing the rich narrative possibilities within the world brought to life by Matt Reeves in 2022’s “The Batman.” This eight-episode series has not only developed into a compelling character exploration of the notorious villain but has also succeeded as a thrilling crime drama. Interestingly, it seems that DC has managed to outpace Marvel in terms of storytelling depth for once.
Despite its acclaim, one lingering question remains: where is Batman during all the chaos caused by Colin Farrell’s character, Oz Cobb? While it was known from the start that Pattinson’s Batman would not make an appearance, the sheer scale of Cobb’s criminal activities, which culminate in a significant disruption in Gotham, raises eyebrows. After all, Batman is typically diligent in cleaning up Gotham’s streets, so one might wonder why he hasn’t intervened.
At the end of “The Batman,” we see Pattinson’s character in a moment of self-discovery that could explain his absence. He has a realization about heroism, suggesting that he may be reevaluating his approach to saving Gotham. However, it seems even Reeves recognized the potential need for a Batman cameo in “The Penguin,” which almost came to fruition.
The final moments of “The Penguin” acknowledged Batman’s existence with the Bat signal illuminating Gotham after Oz Cobb claims dominance over the city’s crime world. Leading up to this, fans anticipated some kind of Batman-related reference, but it was largely absent. Although Reeves confirmed that Pattinson’s Dark Knight would not be part of the series, there were discussions about integrating Bruce Wayne into the storyline.
Reeves shared with Entertainment Weekly that various concepts were explored, but nothing solidified. Some ideas, including a potential appearance by Bruce Wayne before Oz’s protégé Vic Agular, ultimately did not fit. LeFranc, the showrunner, emphasized that the focus remained on the central characters. They aimed to craft a narrative where any external influences would take away from that core storytelling.
So, did “The Penguin” genuinely require Batman’s presence? While it unfolds within the same Gotham that Reeves established, the plot is intensely focused on developing Oz Cobb as a character, illustrating his journey from a scrappy underdog to a figure of moral decline. The series raises compelling questions about our ability to empathize with morally ambiguous characters.
Despite the subtle references and Easter eggs embedded throughout, which include a fresh take on Robin’s origin and obscure DC references, the show succeeds in standing on its own. It deftly leads into “The Batman: Part II,” putting Oz in a prime position for inevitable conflict with Gotham’s guardian.
Ultimately, while the absence of Robert Pattinson’s Batman in “The Penguin” is both refreshing and perhaps a bit frustrating, it conveys a sense of narrative integrity and gives audiences a new perspective on a familiar landscape. “The Penguin” season 1 is now fully available for streaming on Max.
