Matt Reeves has finally explained why Batman doesn't intervene in The Penguin

Batman director Matt Reeves has finally explained why the Caped Crusader doesn’t intervene during the events of The Penguin.

“This was a time of great unrest in the city, it’s literally the week after what happened,” Reeves said. Digital spy. “A lot of the city is in despair, so the police can’t get everywhere, there’s crime everywhere, it’s a very, very dangerous time.

“(Batman’s) trying to grapple with the aftermath of everything that happened, which he blames himself for to some extent,” he added.

The Batman saw Riddler flood Gotham City, and although the film ended with recovery efforts beginning, it’s clear that the Flood was catastrophic. It makes sense, then, that Batman had his hands full, allowing Oz Cobb to rise to the top of the criminal underworld.

But, a cameo for Batman was considered. “While writing the season, we often discussed whether or not there would be a cross-through that would feel earned,” Reeves has revealed. “We tried a few different ideas conceptually, ultimately nothing was written, but nothing really seemed to gel in a way that felt earned.”

One idea was to have Batman meet Vic, Oz’s young right-hand man. “But even that ended up confusing things too much,” Reeves explained.

The Batman 2 will be released in theaters on October 2, 2026. In the meantime, you can check out our The Penguin Review for our spoiler-free verdict on the show, as well as our guide to all upcoming DC movies and shows for everything else that is in store.