The Penguin helmer Lauren Lefranc reveals why there is no Batman in DC's HBO series—Reports

Almost three months after its release, the lack of Batman in The Penguin continues to be a topic of discussion. Set in the same universe as Matt Reeves' 2022 The Batman, the solo series featuring the popular Gotham villain follows the movie's events. The HBO series follows Oz trying to fill the power vacuum in the Gotham underworld left by Carmine Falcone.

Though fan theories about Batman appearing in The Penguin were rampant before the first episode, "After Hours" aired, the makers maintained that Gotham's protector would not appear in any episode of the series. That assertion proved true except for the brief appearance of the Bat-Signal in the finale's closing moments.

Lauren LeFranc, the showrunner of the acclaimed series, recently gave an interview to Empire Magazine to explain the reasoning behind Batman's absence.

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Lauren Lefranc explains Batman's absence in HBO's The Penguin

Lefranc finally provided an answer for Batman's absence almost three months after the finale of The Penguin aired on November 10, 2024. When asked about Batman's whereabouts during the entire runtime of the series, she answered what Matt Reeves told her early during the show's development. She said:

"What Matt reiterated to me early on is that it’s a big city and Batman can't be everywhere. He doesn't have a Spidey-sense that tingles. But just because we don’t see Batman in our show doesn't mean he's unaware or uncaring."

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Our take on Lefranc's comments

While her explanation is logical, it is also to be noted that we did see Batman roughed up during the climax of The Batman. He is shot multiple times by The Riddler's followers, and he also worked tirelessly rescuing Gotham's citizens stranded in the flood. So, he may be resting and recovering as the show's first episode begins just a week after the movie's climax.

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Lefranc also addressed how The Penguin will impact the next movie

She also emphasized that the events of The Penguin will affect The Batman - Part II. Here's what she said about the show's impact on the upcoming Matt Reeves sequel featuring the Caped Crusader:

"The events that have taken place in Gotham City, and the repercussions that come with them, will carry into the next film."

As of now, Batman—Part II has yet to undergo production, as the script is still supposedly incomplete. However, filmmaker Matt Reeves himself confirmed that the sequel will begin filming sometime this year. Reeves said this at the 2025 Golden Globes:

"This year we’re going to be shooting and I’m very excited about it. There’s been a lot of stuff going on. It’s taken longer than I would have wanted but, also, I’m super excited about what we’re doing and I can’t wait to share that with everybody."

Aside from that, many are curious about whether The Penguin will have a second season.

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Will there be The Penguin Season 2?

The show's success has fans wondering if there will be a second season. Both Matt Reeves and Lauren Lefranc have addressed this issue in the past few weeks after The Penguin's wins at the Golden Globes. Here is what Reeves said about another season for Oz Cobb:

"Obviously, we’re doing THE BATMAN 2, we want to get the timing right on that. Our plan and our hope is to absolutely do another season, we just have to come up with the idea that we think is the right idea, which is what we’re working on."

Lauren Lefranc, while expressing happiness for the win, said this about season 2:

"We were meant to be a limited series, so I'm really proud of the first season and the story that we made. There's more stories to tell there, for sure, if we can find the right idea or the right characters. I'm not sure about that yet, but I'm really proud of the work that we've done."

Here's what Lauren Lefranc said when asked about a character she wanted to adapt to the Matt Reeves Batman Universe:

"For me, it's just about making sure I can find a personal connection to that character and feel like I can do something unique and different with them. That's what I felt like I found with Oz, and then in that world, I was able to bring in Sofia and all these other characters. So, for me, it's always seeking something personal. And if I can latch onto that, I'd be honored to."

These comments by Reeves and Lefranc show that they understand what makes comic book adaptations stand out: minimalism.

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Do you buy into Lauren Lefranc's explanation of Batman's absence in The Penguin? Let us know.