HBO Redirects “The Batman” Spinoffs to Focus on Iconic Characters, Shelves Gotham PD and Arkham Series.
Director Matt Reeves shared insights with Entertainment Weekly on the redirection of “The Batman” universe's expansion into television, highlighting HBO's strategic shift to spotlight iconic characters. This shift resulted in the shelving of initially planned series about Gotham's police department and Arkham Asylum.
Reeves, who introduced “The Batman” to audiences, was eager to explore additional narratives within this universe, starting with a series this fall titled “The Penguin,” featuring Colin Farrell. The decision came as HBO executives advised concentrating on well-known figures from the Batman lore.
Originally announced in July 2020, the Gotham PD series, co-created with “Boardwalk Empire's” Terence Winter (later replaced by Joe Barton), aimed to portray a corrupt Gotham cop dealing with the city's internal corruption and the emergence of Batman. However, this concept was ultimately set aside.
Reeves then pivoted to develop a series based in Arkham Asylum with Antonio Campos as the writer and showrunner. Despite initial enthusiasm, this project too was discontinued, as reported by Variety.
Reeves explained that HBO's guidance was instrumental in refining the focus of “The Batman” universe for television. This direction ensured that elements from the discontinued Gotham PD series were integrated into “The Penguin.”
“The Penguin” serves as a narrative bridge to “The Batman Part II,” scheduled for release in 2026. Set a week after the first movie, the series will delve into the power dynamics in Gotham City, highlighting how the underestimation of the Penguin shapes the city's criminal landscape.
“The Penguin” is set to premiere on September 19 on HBO and will be available for streaming on Max, featuring a total of eight episodes for its first season.
