2022’s The Batman gave audiences a familiar take on the Caped Crusader’s police force ally Jim Gordon, and for the sequel, actor Jeffrey Wright says he would like to explore the man behind the badge. In an interview for American Fiction, Wright explained that he’d like to examine how Gordon also has to wear a mask, albeit a much more subtle one compared to the bulletproof cowl donned by Robert Pattinson’s vigilante.
“I wondered about his private life and I wonder about people who have the level of responsibility that he has, having that public face of rectitude and goodness,” Wright said to Discussing Film. “I wonder what lies underneath Commissioner Gordon because the Batman wears his cowl but, in some ways, Gordon wears a mask too. Gordon represents justice in a way through his type of righteousness, not sanctimony, and I wonder what might lie behind that mask with the sacrifices that he may have to consider because he gives so much to this public persona and his civic duty. What’s the bearing of all that on him, underneath his mask? Those are questions that might be interesting to pursue, but we’ll see.”
In the comics, Greg Capullo and Scott Snyder’s Batman run fleshed out Gordon further over several storylines, including one memorable flashback during the Zero Year arc that revealed the grim secret behind his signature overcoat. Other comic book creative teams have also put their own spin on Gordon, evolving him into an interesting alternative to Batman who strongly believes in the rule of law.
As for progress on The Batman 2, Wright says he hasn’t seen a script yet from writer-director Matt Reeves, but he does expect a promotion when production eventually kicks off. A sequel to The Batman was announced shortly after the first film premiered to rave reviews, and in the wake of James Gunn and Peter Safran spearheading a new direction for DC Studios, The Batman 2 is planned to arrive on October 3, 2025, as a DC Elseworlds film.
Fans won’t have to wait too long to return to Gotham, as The Penguin TV show will release on Max this year and will chart the rise of Colin Farrell’s villainous character in the criminal underworld of that city.
