With “The Penguin” with Colin Farrell premiering on Max next Friday, there’s plenty of buzz swirling about Matt Reeves‘ follow-up to 2022’s “The Batman.” Fans already know it hits theaters on October 2, 2026, but Reeves and Warner Bros. have remained quiet about anything else about the film (outside of Farrell reprising his role as Ozwald Cobblepot). For instance, will Zoë Kravitz‘s Catwoman be back? Or Andy Serkis‘ Alfred? And does Reeves still plan on making his “The Batman” story a trilogy?
The last question is a good one, considering plans for other Max series set in “The Batman” universe fell apart this year. But Deadline (via Collider) reports that Reeves confirmed he still plans to make three movies with Pattinson donning Batman’s cape and cowl. “Yes, that is still the plan,” the director told Collider in a new interview. “I mean, it’s sticking very closely to the path we envisioned.”
Of course, artistic visions alter, and that’s part of the reason “The Penguin” exists; after the box office success of “The Batman” Reeves and Warner Bros. decided to expand the scope of Reeves’ Gotham. “Things kind of shifted,” explained Reeves about the upcoming series. “So, when we came up with the idea to do “The Penguin,” that was something where I had always intended to continue Penguin’s story, and wanted to tell this story of his beginning of rise to power,” Reeves said. “Because we know that he’s introduced in “The Batman” as a kind of mid-level, sort of overlooked, mocked figure, who’s not yet in anyone’s eyes the kingpin we come to know him as in the lore.”
Reeves already revealed that “The Penguin” ties in directly to the set-up of “The Batman Part II,” but the scrapped “Arkham Asylum” and “Gotham PD” series also would have built out Reeves’ Gotham City. “The Penguin” still provides backstory, but not to the extent three Max show would have. “And so, that was deliberate because I wanted— whereas it wasn’t Batman’s origin story, I wanted the origin stories of these other characters,” Reeves continued, “of the Rogues Gallery, and that story was originally going to be the entrée into the next movie.”
Reeves confirmed earlier this month that he plans “to shoot next year” and he’s “finishing up the script now” for “The Batman Part II.” “Colin will be part of the movie,” he continued. “We’ve shared [the script] as we’ve been going along with DC and the studio, and they’re super excited.” But as for any clues to the plot for “The Batman Part II,” maybe look at “The Penguin” for clues, which Reeves describes as an “entry point” for his sequel. Speculation about who the main villain will be in Reeves’ new film is the big question among Batman fans right now . Maybe Barry Keoghan‘s Joker? Or maybe a bold choice like a more recent addition to Batman’s rogue gallery, like the Court of Owls or Professor Pyg? The only conclusive thing at the moment is that Reeves is keep details about “The Batman Part II” close to the chest. So it’s “wait and see” until the sequel starts shooting in 2025.
“The Penguin” premieres on Max next week on September 19. Watch a final trailer for the series below.