Colin Farrell as The Penguin and Robert Pattinson as The BatmanFollowing the conclusion of The Penguin TV show, The Batman universe creator is giving the DC audience some resolution to the question of why Robert Pattinson didn’t appear in the HBO drama as The Dark Knight. The Batman universe will soon have new trouble to deal with, as The Penguin saw Oz Cobb’s criminal power grow increasingly over the course of the show. However, one of the mysteries that fans have been wanting an explanation for is why Batman didn’t interfere with Oz’s activities, as the franchise’s main creative force is offering up new answers on the matter.

In a new interview with Digital Spy, Matt Reeves was directly asked why Pattinson’s Gotham City hero didn’t make an appearance in The Penguin series at least once. Reeves gave a detailed response to what kept Batman from getting involved with the overall plot of The Penguin season 1, as he explained the following:

This was a time of great turmoil in the city, it’s literally the week after what happened. Much of the city is in desperation, so police can’t get everywhere, there’s crime everywhere, it’s a very, very dangerous time. [Batman’s] out there trying to grapple with the aftermath of everything that happened, which to some degree he blames himself for .

What Matt Reeves’ Batman Explanation Means For The Penguin

Oz/The Penguin (Colin Farrell) with tears in his eyes after strangling Victor in The Penguin Season 1 Ep 8 Bruce Wayne in his Batman costume in The Batman Sofia (Cristin Milioti) wearing a bow tie and dressed elegantly in The Penguin Season 1 Ep 8 Batman in his suit in The Batman Oz/The Penguin (Colin Farrell) holding a gun in The Penguin Season 1 Ep 8Oz/The Penguin (Colin Farrell) with tears in his eyes after strangling Victor in The Penguin Season 1 Ep 8
Bruce Wayne in his Batman costume in The Batman Sofia (Cristin Milioti) wearing a bow tie and dressed elegantly in The Penguin Season 1 Ep 8 Batman in his suit in The Batman Oz/The Penguin (Colin Farrell) holding a gun in The Penguin Season 1 Ep 8

Even though the beginning of The Penguin show was picking up right where The Batman movie ending left off, Reeves’ comments about Bruce not having a presence in the series make sense for a number of reasons. To begin with, Oz’s antics were potentially not even on Batman’s radar in comparison to the many people in Gotham City whose lives were ruined and affected by The Riddler. Since Bruce is just one man in a big city like Gotham, he is not going to be able to catch everything that is going on in every corner of the city.

But there is another core reason that Pattinson didn’t show up in The Penguin finale or any other episode: this was never Pattinson’s show, but rather Oz’s story. The Penguin is supposed to expand the world of The Batman by telling it through Oz’s perspective, building up his role further in this universe. It also makes their inevitable encounter in The Batman – Part II something to look forward to, as they will be at different points in their respective paths.

Our Take On Matt Reeves’ Batman Absence Explanation In The Penguin

Oz/The Penguin (Colin Farrell) smirking at Sofia in The Penguin Season 1 Ep 8Image via Max

From everything Reeves stated, the events of The Penguin series, along with where Bruce was left off in The Batman, naturally put them on very distinct journeys in Gotham City. In a way, Batman’s presence did end up being felt at the very end of The Penguin finale as the Bat-Signal went off, foreshadowing what is being set up in The Batman – Part II. Until they cross paths again, the world can relieve The Penguin season 1 on Max.