Few shows have caused as much of a stir this year as The penguin. The HBO series received consistent acclaim while it was on the air, and seemed to win over die-hard DC Comics fans and casual viewers alike. That said, The penguin it never really managed to answer the one question fans kept asking throughout the eight episodes. The question, of course, was: where is Batman?

Oz Cobb (Colin Farrell) is causing some rowdy trouble The penguinbut his actions seemingly never catch the attention of Bruce Wayne (Robert Pattinson). That’s a reality that even the series’ biggest fans found hard to accept. Therefore, those viewers will probably be curious to hear it The Batman director and Penguin executive producer Matt Reeves’ long-awaited explanation for the Dark Knight’s absence from the HBO series.

In an interview with Digital Spy, Reeves revealed that Batman is too preoccupied with the aftermath of The Riddler’s attacks at the end of the series. The Batman to pay enough attention to Oz Cobb The penguin. “This was a time of great unrest in the city, it’s literally the week after what happened,” Reeves noted. “A lot of the city is in despair, so the police can’t get everywhere, there’s crime everywhere, it’s a very, very dangerous time. (Batman) is trying to grapple with the aftermath of everything that happened, which he blames himself for to some extent.

The idea that Batman is simply too busy to deal with Oz’s criminal development may not live up to some expectations Penguin fans, especially considering Oz’s war with Sofia Falcone (Cristin Milioti) ultimately leads to multiple gunfights, deaths, and a high-profile bombing. But to be fair to Reeves: The Batman ends with the hero’s decision to take a more active role in helping the city actually heal from its many setbacks, scandals, and losses. That he devotes his first few weeks after The Riddler’s attacks to helping Gotham and its officials get back on track makes some sense with that in mind.

While Batman never actually appears in it The penguinAlso, the final shot of the HBO series shows the Bat-signal lighting up not far from Oz’s new penthouse apartment. That image suggests that Oz didn’t just disappear from Batman’s sight. On the contrary, it is possible that his actions are everywhere The penguin really caught the Dark Knight’s attention. Either way, viewers will likely get to see his reaction to the rise of Oz when The Batman Part II will finally hit theaters in 2026.

The penguin now streaming on Max. The Batman Part II will be released in theaters on October 2, 2026.