A spin-off of ‘The Batman,’ 'The Penguin' is set to premiere in September 2024.
A brand-new show set in the universe of Matt Reeves’ ‘The Batman’ is arriving soon. Yes, you heard that right—a spin-off from ‘The Batman’ is premiering in September 2024, following up on the June 20 trailer. Colin Farrell returns as the Penguin, reprising his role from ‘The Batman’, with Cristin Milioti and Rhenzy Feliz joining the cast. This series delves into Penguin, known outside his penguin persona as Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot's ascent to power within Gotham City's criminal underworld. ‘The Batman’ is the cornerstone of a shared universe, with two sequels on the horizon—’The Batman – Part II’ slated for release on October 2, 2026. But before that, this exciting spin-off arrives to further explore Gotham's dark corners. ‘Batman’ has been picturised several times since the 1940s. Let’s uncover some lesser-known facts about some ‘Batman’ films.
The ‘Batman’ films directed by Tim Burton were originally meant to be helmed by none other than Ivan Reitman, the mastermind behind ‘Ghostbusters,’ before Burton took the reins. The journey to bring Batman to the big screen began when avid comic fan Michael Uslan acquired the film rights to ‘Batman’ in 1979. Uslan had a vision to create the ultimate dark and serious adaptation of the iconic character. He partnered with producer Benjamin Melniker, and the project eventually found its home at Warner Bros. Tim Burton was ultimately offered the directorial role following the unexpected success of his film ‘Pee-wee's Big Adventure.’
Jack Nicholson was the first pick to portray the Joker, though other actors like Tim Curry, Willem Dafoe, David Bowie, Robin Williams, and James Woods were also considered. Nicholson’s casting had a lasting impact, making the role of a Batman villain highly desirable for top Hollywood actors.However, Nicholson accepted the role under strict conditions, which included a hefty salary, a share of the box office profits, and control over his shooting schedule. His final earnings for the role reportedly soared to an astonishing $50 million.
Many A-list actors were in the running for the role of Batman before Michael Keaton landed the part. However, his casting sparked major controversy, with outraged fans flooding Warner Bros. with 50,000 letters. The primary concern was that Keaton, known for his comedic roles, would steer the film toward a campy, TV-style Batman and would not be able to portray a serious role. Yet director Tim Burton, having worked with Keaton on ‘Beetlejuice,’ knew the actor could balance both comedy and serious roles.
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Christopher Nolan once considered featuring The Riddler in his directed ‘Batman’ film ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ with Leonardo DiCaprio in mind for the role. While this plan didn’t come to fruition and DiCaprio didn’t appear in the film, he went on to star in Nolan’s critically acclaimed ‘Inception.’
After being removed from the ‘Batman Returns’ script, Robin became a key character in ‘Batman Forever.’ Leonardo DiCaprio and Chris O'Donnell were the leading candidates for the role, with the 24-year-old O'Donnell ultimately securing the part over DiCaprio, Ewan McGregor, Jude Law, and Alan Cumming.
