The Batman Star Explains Jim Gordon’s Absence in The Penguin

As a die-hard fan of Gotham City and its intricate web of characters, I must express my disappointment at the absence of Detective Jim Gordon from “The Penguin” series. Having witnessed Jeffrey Wright’s captivating portrayal of Gordon in both “The Batman” and the comics, I can’t help but feel that the show missed a golden opportunity to delve deeper into the complex relationship between Gordon and Oswald Cobblepot.

In eight episodes of Gotham City’s exploration by The Penguin, Detective Jim Gordon somehow remained unnoticed. This weekend, actor Jeffrey Wright shared in an interview with Inverse that he was never approached for the series and remains unsure as to why his character didn’t make a guest appearance. However, he expressed interest in potentially joining the show for any subsequent seasons.

In his words regarding the initial season of “The Penguin”, Wright stated, “There was no mention of me being part of it.” Regarding Season 2, he added, “I’m not sure what will happen in the future; we’ll have to wait and see. For now, I’ve got enough things on my plate.” In the year 2022, Wright portrayed the legendary Gotham Police detective in “The Batman”, working alongside Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne. This spinoff series primarily focused on Colin Farrell’s character Oswald Cobb, who had a limited role in the movie. While several other characters from the film made appearances in this show, Jim Gordon was not among them.

The Batman Star Explains Jim Gordon’s Absence in The Penguin

There are multiple arguments for excluding Gordon from a spinoff – viewers might wonder why the detective didn’t summon Batman for help when needed, given their constant association. However, it’s not that the situations never became critical enough – after all, Con O’Neill returned to portray GCPD chief Mackenzie Bock, demonstrating high-stakes scenarios. Ultimately, The Penguin managed to thrive independently of the Dark Knight and Gordon, generating optimism for a potential renewal.

Director Matt Reeves, of “The Batman: Part 2,” extends a heartfelt thank you to the cast and crew of The Penguin prior to the finale.

Future of Gotham

During the same chat, I shared some less-than-thrilling insights about the upcoming Gotham City projects. When queried about ‘The Batman Part II’, I confessed, “I’m eager to return, but truth be told, we’re both in the dark about it. I haven’t received any updates, and we’ve been busy with our separate ventures. However, I can’t wait to dive back into that dark, brooding world once more.

There’s much to discover… I find the image of Gotham that [Reeves] paints to be truly captivating, filled with depth and a unique grittiness,” he summarized.

It’s becoming increasingly clear that the sequel to “The Batman” isn’t quite finished yet. Last week, it was disclosed that Robert Pattinson, our Dark Knight, has signed on for Christopher Nolan’s upcoming project, slated to start filming in early 2025. Given this schedule, it appears he won’t have time to suit up as Batman again. Additionally, James Gunn, the overseer of DC Universe, shared with fans on Threads that the script for “The Batman Part II” is still a work in progress, suggesting there’s more writing to be done before production can commence.

Besides Pattinson and Wright, Farrell may return in the sequel of “The Batman”, should it ever be produced. As for “The Penguin”, there’s been expressed hope for a second season, but currently, no renewal has been announced. If another season does come about, it would likely tie into the next film, potentially causing more scheduling issues.

Both “Batman” and “The Penguin” are currently available for streaming on Max. The sequel to “Batman,” titled “The Batman Part II,” has been confirmed to premiere on October 2, 2026.

2024-11-25 00:39

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