The creator and showrunner ofThe Penguinhas revealed why Robert Pattinson didn’t appear in the show as Batman.The Penguinwas a spin-off miniseries that was spawned from the 2022 filmThe Batman, which Pattinson headlined. Instead of focusing on the titular character’s feud with The Caped Crusader,The Penguinfocused on Oswald “Oz” Cobb building his empire.
SinceThe Penguinhad an amazing castand story, the miniseries wasnominated for a staggering 24 Emmy Awards. Even though fans couldn’t get enough of the cast and feltThe Penguin’sending was perfect, many viewers were still surprised by Pattinson’s exclusion.
The Penguin’sshowrunner Lauren LeFranc spoke withThe Hollywood Reporter. During that discussion, LeFranc explained thatThe Penguindidn’t feature Pattinson portraying Batman because it didn’t feel necessary from a storyline perspective. She notes that it was heavily discussed withThe Batmandirector Matt Reeves, but she challenged herself to create a compelling narrative without Batman. Check out her comments below:
Matt and I talked about it a lot. It just didn’t feel necessary. It felt like we’d be wrenching him in just to say we had The Batman in our show, when in reality, I feel like my goal at least was always to create rich enough, compelling characters that you weren’t desperate to see him, which I know is a tall order because so many people love Batman, and Rob Pattinson is so good as Batman.
But, yes, we were doing something a little different. We’re through the lens of Oz. We’re on the streets. There’s a gang war happening. We always would say, “Batman’s up high looking down on Gotham, and Oz is in the muck, wanting to get up there and to achieve a level of power.” So, yes, we talked about it, but honestly, we just didn’t want to interfere with the story that we had. I mean, there’s not even a season 2 right now. So I can’t say anything about that.
What The Explanation For The Penguin Not Featuring Batman Means For Fans
When most people think about The Penguin as a character, it is his longstanding battle with Batman that comes to mind. As a result, it shouldn’t surprise anyone that the team behindThe Penguinminiseries strongly considered having Batman cameo on the show. However, LeFranc’s explanation for Batman’s absence from the show is extremely meaningful.
It isn’t a secret that most of the people in charge of the production companies and studios in the entertainment industry are driven by the desire to be as successful as possible. As a result, many of the creative decisions that affect movies and TV shows are heavily influenced by a desire to maximize profits.
If the team behindThe Penguinwanted an easy success, Pattinson’s Batman definitely would have shown up. Instead, Lauren’s comments prove that the team behindThe Penguinwanted to maximize viewer engagement by creating a compelling narrative that could stand on its own without Batman.
Our Take On Robert Pattinson’s Batman Absence
Since I was a child, I have lined up to watch movies about Batman. I even sawBatman & Robintwice in the theater when I was a teenager for some reason. After years of avidly following The Dark Knight’s adventures, it is hard to state the idea that I am happy to have lost out on an opportunity to see the superhero in action again.
Despite that, I have to completely agree that Pattinson not appearing as Batman duringThe Penguinseason 1 was the right decision. The show was a masterpiece that put the titular character in the spotlight in a truly captivating and heartbreaking way. Given the storyThe Penguintold, Batman appearing would have pulled focus away from the story.
The Penguin
Cast
Created by Lauren LeFranc, The Penguin is a crime-drama spin-off television series of 2022’s film The Batman. Set shortly after the events of The Batman, Oz Cobb, A.K.A. the Penguin, begins his rise in the underworld of Gotham City as he contends with the daughter of his late boss, Carmine Falcone, for control of the crime family’s empire.
