The Batman's spinoff shows are seemingly still happening at HBO Max despite the recent changes for the streaming service. Director Matt Reeves and star Robert Pattinson helped reboot the Dark Knight in 2022 with a detective-driven movie starring the iconic DC character. The Batman is not connected to the DC Extended Universe, as it instead was envisioned as the start of a brand-new franchise and universe. After the movie's critical and financial success, plans for the franchise to expand with sequels and spinoffs building off The Batman's ending became clear.
In addition to the highly anticipated movie sequel, it was previously revealed that Reeves' plans for The Batman franchise included multiple HBO Max spinoff shows. One is meant to star Colin Farrell's Oswald Cobblepot, who will return to headline The Penguin, while plans for a Gotham P.D. series evolved to become focused on the inmates of Arkham Asylum. The Batman's HBO Max spinoffs have recently become the subject of much speculation that they could not happen following WB's shocking decision to cancel Batgirl, which was meant to be an HBO Max original movie. The streaming service has since canceled several completed and in-development movies and shows.
Concerns about The Batman's HBO Max spinoff shows are not warranted any longer. Reeves signed a new multi-year deal with Warner Bros. Discovery that spans movies and TV shows. According to the report from Deadline, The Batman's HBO Max spinoff shows are among the titles he is still actively developing. Warner Bros Pictures Group Co-Chair Michael De Luca mentioned the deal comes after working with Reeves in the "beginning stages of planning The Penguin series for HBO Max." Production is nearing for The Penguin, while the report also notes the Batman Arkham series is also still in discussion.
Ironically, the positive update for The Batman's HBO Max spinoffs and Reeves' plans for the franchise's future comes on the heels of disappointing news. It was recently revealed that Batman: Caped Crusader, an animated series from Reeves, J.J. Abrams, and Bruce Tim, is not moving forward at HBO Max. The series is now being shopped around to different networks to find a new home. While Reeves' animated Batman series will not happen with WB, The Penguin and other ideas he has for The Batman spinoffs are seemingly still good to go at HBO Max despite all the recent changes.
It should not be too surprising that The Batman is one of the franchise's HBO Max is okay building high-budget TV shows around. James Gunn already confirmed that Peacemaker season 2 was safe at HBO Max, and The Batman was, unsurprisingly, a big hit for the streaming service after its theatrical run. The Penguin, Batman Arkham, and other shows being made will allow Reeves to continue exploring and fleshing out this world ahead of The Batman's sequel.
Source: Deadline
