Why Matt Reeves Isn’t Directing The Penguin

In a recent interview, The Batman director Matt Reeves explained how close he came to directing an episode of The Penguin, a spin-off series starring Colin Farrell. Although he was deeply involved in the show’s development, scheduling conflicts with The Batman sequel forced him to step away from directing. Collider reported this during an interview with Reeves.

“The thing is that I really wanted to,” Reeves said, explaining that his early conversations with Farrell made it seem possible. However, due to post-production work on The Batman and script duties for The Batman Part II, he was unable to commit to directing an episode. “There was a point where we realized… I really couldn’t be also directing.”

Although he couldn’t direct this time, Reeves didn’t rule out future involvement. “If [a] schedule ever presented itself… I think it would be really fun,” he said, noting his excitement to continue working with Farrell on The Batman Part II.

Reeves, who is an executive producer on The Penguin, also previously confirmed that Robert Pattinson’s Batman and Paul Dano’s Riddler will not appear in the show. “Rob is not going to be in the show,” Reeves told Total Film. the series will focus on Farrell’s character’s rise to power. While Batman’s presence is felt in the aftermath of the 2022 film, Reeves noted, “When I’m doing a Batman story, Batman and Bruce is going to be the main point of view.”

The Penguin debuts on HBO Max on September 19 and features a cast including Michael Kelly, Cristin Milioti, and Clancy Brown. The series, described by Farrell as “really dark” and “incredibly violent,” continues to expand the Gotham universe. You can check out GameSpot’s review here. The Batman Part II is expected in 2026.