‘The Penguin’ Episode 2 Confirms Show’s Setting, As Well As That of ‘The Batman’ Movie

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As a devoted fan who has followed every twist and turn in Gotham’s dark underbelly for years, I must say that this revelation about the precise year of Matt Reeves’ Batman universe is a game-changer!

Initially, some spectators harbored doubts when it was announced that Colin Farrell would portray Oswald Cobblepot, more famously known as The Penguin, in Matt Reeves’ The Batman. This uncertainty stemmed from the fact that they weren’t quite sure what to expect from the role. However, costume designers outdid themselves in transforming Farrell into an authentic-looking villain, and his performance proved to be exceptional. The Penguin’s portrayal was so captivating that HBO swiftly commissioned a standalone spin-off series featuring him.

Since its debut on September 19, 2024, the television series titled “The Penguin” has been applauded by both critics and viewers. They consider it an outstanding demonstration of world-building and a worthy sequel to Reeves’ film. The acting performances that contribute to its world-building have also earned appreciation from fans, making this report a deep dive into the lore of the Reeves universe.

In essence, Episode 2 of “The Penguin” played a significant role in the development of Reeves’ universe, as it provided clear definitions and revelations that were crucial to the overall franchise. The series confirmed the timeline, thus we now know when both “The Batman” and “The Penguin” are set.

In the film by Reeves, if your memory serves you right, Batman was portrayed as a partially legendary character in Gotham city. While people were aware of his presence, he remained so enigmatic that numerous sensational tales swirled around him, causing more fear of what he symbolized than Batman himself. At that point in time, the Caped Crusader was not widely recognized, and even though this doesn’t pinpoint the exact timeline of the story, it does indicate that we were only beginning to delve into Batman’s tale.

Given that Reeves aimed to depict a contemporary Gotham City, many viewers speculated that the film took place in the year 2019. This assumption implies that the movie The Penguin is also set in 2019. This belief arises from numerous production photos and background information we’ve received throughout the filming process, which led us to believe that the movie was indeed set in 2019, a timeline that made sense given the modern setting.

It’s interesting to note that contrary to initial assumptions, the movie “The Batman” wasn’t released in 2019, but instead in 2022. This is evident from Episode 2 of “The Penguin.” In this episode, we observe that Alberto Falcone passed away on November 13, 2022. Given this timeline, it follows that “The Batman” is also set in 2022. Furthermore, since a winter setting for the sequel, “The Batman: Part II,” has been confirmed, we can expect it to be set towards the end of 2022 or early 2023. This was also corroborated by the episode’s director, Craig Zobel, who made this statement:

In the course of discussing The Batman, it emerged that the movie takes place in 2022. Previously, this wasn’t clear to us. Was there a deliberate decision to align The Penguin with this timeline, or was there a conversation about making this the consistent timeline for the storyline?

Craig Zobel: To be honest, I can’t completely vouch for Matt’s perspective, but from my understanding, Matt had essentially set the timeline for the story even before Lauren [LeFranc] began developing it. It was indeed intended to be 2022, although it might not have been explicitly stated in the film itself. I believe one of the unique aspects of this movie is that it offers a very distinct and particular setting and visual style.

Source: ScreenRant

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2024-09-30 18:14