HBO’s spinoff series, *The Penguin*, connected to *The Batman*, has managed to secure a higher score on Rotten Tomatoes compared to its cinematic predecessor, heightening anticipation for what lies ahead in the DC Elseworlds franchise. This series, featuring Colin Farrell, is the inaugural follow-up to Matt Reeves’ *The Batman*, which is planned to expand into a trilogy with *The Batman – Part II* in 2025 and *The Batman – Part III*. Initially, Reeves’ universe was set to include three spinoff series, with *Gotham PD* and an *Arkham Asylum* series joining *The Penguin*. However, the latter two projects were shelved in July 2024.
On the platform X, Rotten Tomatoes disclosed *The Penguin*’s initial Critics Score as “Certified Fresh at 91% on the Tomatometer, with 32 reviews” as of September 12th, 2024, a week before its general release. In contrast, when *The Batman* premiered in 2022, it attained an 89% Critics Score on its launch day. Here’s the post from Rotten Tomatoes:
Implications of *The Penguin*’s Rotten Tomatoes Score for *The Batman* Franchise
#### Promising Prospects for *The Batman*’s Spinoffs and Sequels
With just two entries, *The Batman* franchise is on track to become a highly acclaimed superhero series. Although Christopher Nolan’s *The Dark Knight* trilogy remains a benchmark in comic book adaptations, *Batman Begins* holds an 85% Critics Score—six points lower than *The Penguin* and four below *The Batman*. If this pattern continues, *The Batman – Part II* and *The Batman – Part III* could potentially surpass *The Dark Knight* and *The Dark Knight Rises*, positioning themselves as the top-rated superhero film and TV franchise ever.
Should *The Penguin* maintain its Critics Score of around 91% and achieve a similar Audience Score, it might revive interest in developing the *Gotham PD* and *Arkham Asylum* spinoff series. Despite the DCU’s Batman being slated for more appearances than Robert Pattinson’s more standalone Dark Knight, there’s a possibility that Pattinson’s Batman could have additional appearances, perhaps not in solo films post-trilogy, but possibly in other series.
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The *Batman* franchise could also introduce new spinoffs centered on other Gotham characters without necessitating Robert Pattinson’s Batman. Characters like Paul Dano’s Riddler, Barry Keoghan’s Joker, Zoe Kravitz’s Catwoman, and the main villain from *The Batman – Part II* could headline their own series, akin to Colin Farrell’s portrayal of Oswald Cobblepot in *The Penguin*. Even if no new projects are greenlit, the success of *The Penguin* underscores the franchise’s quality.
Source: Rotten Tomatoes (1,2) / X
The Penguin
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