To recap: Ben Affleck wanted to write and direct a more traditional version of “The Batman,” but, not too soon after those intentions were declared, Affleck decided not to helm the movie himself and eventually, the script was scrapped. Then, ‘Planet Of The Apes‘ reboot director Matt Reeves took over as writer/director of the project, now a stand-alone picture from the current onscreen DC Universe and even Affleck’s role as the Caped Crusader was, and still is, in doubt. Reeves has kept a low profile and been a vault regarding plot and character details of this critical cinematic endeavor for a franchise in desperate need of redemption.
But there is some movement out there. According to a tweet coming from Variety’s Justin Kroll, who has had accurate DCEU intel in the past, Oswald Cobblepot aka The Penguin is being considered as the lead villain role in Reeves’ “The Batman” and the Harley Quin spin-off “Birds of Prey.” “Take this with a grain of salt, as things are constantly changing in the DCEU,” Kroll wrote. “I’m hearing the Penguin is possibly the choice to play the main villain in The Batman. Sources add even if Reeves decides to go another route the studio could then make him the main villain in Birds of Prey.”
For one, it sounds like Reeves isn’t very far into his script if he hasn’t chosen the villain yet and or DC is really hedging his bets. Josh Gad, who apparently even met with DC last year, is still heavily rumored to take on the role and last year started dropping significant hints on Twitter.
We haven’t seen Cobblepot depicted on-screen since Danny DeVito‘s iconic 1992 performance in Tim Burton‘s “Batman Returns.” Just like Heath Ledger‘s Joker before it, any depiction of a classic Batman character will surely bring up comparisons this past attempts. Matt Reeves is said to be still working on the script for “The Batman,” so this will have to stay as a “rumor” for now. After all, the DCEU is prone to change plans in the blink of an eye, and have been very careful in making this Batman reboot a worthy movie event, especially after the, er, complications that were the result of Zack Snyder‘s six-year tenure with the company.
Take this with a grain of salt as things are constantly changing in the DCEU but I'm hearing the Penguin is possibly the choice to play the main villain in THE BATMAN. Sources add even if Reeves decide to go another route the studio could then make him the main villain in BOP
— Justin Kroll (@krolljvar) May 30, 2018
Reeves is still working on the script, so that could always change but of the multiple BIRDS OF PREY scripts submitted, one does have the Penguin as the main heavy. Either way, it seems WB wants this character cast in the universe sooner rather then later.
— Justin Kroll (@krolljvar) May 30, 2018