Matt Reeves, the mastermind behind the critically acclaimed ‘The Batman’, had talked about how his ambitious plans for expanding the Gotham City universe have been thwarted by network executives.
Originally, Reeves had envisioned a series of spin-off shows delving into the gritty underbelly of the city. He wanted to focus on the ‘Gotham PD‘ and ‘Arkham Asylum‘. However, these plans have been put on hold as the network opted for a more “character-driven approach”.
Related: Director Matt Reeves Compares Bruce Wayne To The Kennedys
Matt Reeves Admits ‘Gotham PD’ Got Dropped For Not Being About The Main Characters
Reeves had previously shared his vision for the ‘Gotham PD’ series, painting a bleak picture of a city plagued by corruption. “It wasn’t going to be a Batman story, it was going about this corrupt cop,” Matt said on the HappySad Podcast.
The show would not be about Batman, it would’ve focused on a morally compromised cop while he navigated a world where the GCPD itself was a cesspool of criminality. Additionally, the character would have intersected with Commissioner Gordon’s storyline. This would offer a complex and morally ambiguous perspective on the city’s law enforcement.
Unfortunately, this ambition was sidelined in favor of a more traditional approach. According to EW, Reeves claimed that network executives expressed a desire to “lean harder into the marquee characters.” They suggested a focus on Batman and other established heroes rather than the side stories. This led to the show getting scrapped.
Reeves then shifted his focus on to ‘Arkham Asylum’ which ended up having the same fate. Moreover, the decision to prioritize established characters is a strategic one. It guarantees a built-in audience and reduces the risk associated with introducing new protagonists. However, it also limits the potential for storytelling and world-building.
In case you missed it: “I Did A Deep Dive And Read So Many” Matt Reeves As He Reveals The Comics That Inspired THE BATMAN
Reeves On Putting Storylines Of The Scrapped Show In ‘The Penguin’
Matt Reeves has revealed that elements from the scrapped show found a new home in the ‘The Penguin’ series. While ‘Gotham PD’ never got the chance, Reeves cleverly used the idea of a power vacuum created by the Riddler’s chaos as a springboard for Penguin’s rise to power.
Moreover, he managed to incorporate some of the ideas to give the scrapped shows justice. Additionally, by positioning Penguin as an underestimated figure, Reeves managed to infuse the character’s story with elements of the original series concept.
You might like to read:
