Matt Reeves’ ‘Batman Epic Crime Saga’ Expands Further with New Spin-Off Series Following ‘The Penguin’

There are many DC projects in development, with much focus on Gunn’s DCU and upcoming titles like “Creature Commandos” and “Superman.” However, we often overlook Elseworlds, which includes “The Batman” film series and other future projects, as they follow their own path.

The next major release is the live-action series “The Penguin,” but it won’t be the last spinoff in development. Matt Reeves and his producing partner Dylan Clark have branded this spinoff series as the “Batman Epic Crime Saga,” with “The Penguin” just the beginning.

The upcoming show is set to take place a week after the events of the film, with Falcone dead and The Penguin struggling to fill the resulting power vacuum, aided by Sofia Falcone. The duo recently discussed their plans for the cinematic universe with Entertainment Weekly.

Reeves and Clark had initially envisioned a spinoff series focused on the Gotham City Police Department, with Terence Winter of “Boardwalk Empire” attached as writer, and also considered an Arkham Asylum concept. However, both the “Gotham P.D.” and “Arkham Asylum” projects were ultimately canceled.

As we were writing the movie [The Batman], I was like, ‘Hey, you know what? I think there are some cool shows that we could do. It was actually why I wanted to make our deal at Warner Bros.

HBO executives advised Reeves to emphasize marquee characters, which led to the development of what became “The Penguin.” While the original “Gotham P.D.” and “Arkham Asylum” concepts did not move forward, elements from the “Gotham P.D.” idea were integrated into “The Penguin.” Reeves notes that in the film, the Penguin is mistakenly seen as an informant, creating a power vacuum that underestimates his real influence.

LeFranc reveals that “The Penguin” will serve as a bridge between “The Batman” and its upcoming sequel, slated for 2026, seamlessly transitioning into the events of Matt Reeves’ next film.

But that’s not all—despite the recent cancellation of two shows, new ones are definitely in the works.

There’s another television exploration we’re going to do. We’re looking at this entire world as it relates to who Batman is — the antagonists around them, all the crime that has to be navigated in the city — and trying to figure out where are the areas that are best to explore.

“The Penguin” is scheduled to premiere on Max on September 19, 2024, with a total of eight episodes.