Warning: This article contains spoilers for The Penguin episode 6, “Gold Summit.”
The Penguinmay have set up the Court of Owls even further as the perfect villains for Matt Reeves' upcoming sequel,The Batman - Part II. Set outside the mainstreamDC Universe,The BatmanandThe Penguinhave detailed a darker and grittier Gotham City, plagued by grounded villains such as the Riddler, the Penguin and the Joker. With Robert Pattinson’s Caped Crusader set to return in2026’sThe Batman - Part II, HBO’s recentThe Penguinseries may have set the stage for new Batman villains to be introduced.
The Penguinhas been detailingOswald “Oz” Cobb’s rise to powerin Gotham City’s underworld after his debut as the owner of the Iceberg Lounge nightclub inThe Batman. The series has shone a brighter light on the class divide and elitism problems in Matt Reeves' version of Gotham.The focus on the disparities between rich and poor may have set up the Court of Owls as the villains forThe Batman - Part II, with evidence of the mysterious group’s upcoming debut mounting even further afterThe Penguinepisode 6, “Gold Summit.”
Matt Reeves' Gotham Has An Elitism Problem
Gotham City’s Class Divide In The Batman & The Penguin Is Huge
BothThe BatmanandThe Penguinhave focused on the huge gap between the rich and poor communities of Gotham City inMatt Reeves' DC Elseworlds franchise. ThroughoutThe Batman, Paul Dano’s Riddler, who was raised in poverty, targets Gotham City’s elite, resenting the rich and powerful for neglecting those less fortunate. It’s ironic that he is opposed by reclusive billionaire Bruce Wayne in his Batman persona.While the divide between rich and poor was already immense, the Riddler’s actions only made it even more prominent.
The Penguin EPs Matt Reeves & Dylan Clark Discuss Oz Cobb, The Batman Part II, And Expanding Gotham City
The Penguin’s executive producers Matt Reeves and Dylan Clark recently shared their thoughts on Oz Cobb as well as other potential Gotham stories.
This has been a significant plot thread inThe Penguin, as the Riddler’s actions in Gotham City have meant that more of the elite have fallen into corruption, with the divide becoming even larger. This has prompted theories that theCourt of Owls will appear inThe Batman - Part II. In DC Comics,the Court of Owls is a secret organization comprised of the wealthiest citizens of Gotham who have influenced the city’s development since its founding. The Court of Owls carries out grisly assassinations on Gotham City’s less-than, so would make perfect antagonists of Matt Reeves' franchise.
The Penguin Episode 6 Adds More Evidence To The Court Of Owls Theory
The Penguin Episode 6 Makes Gotham’s Elitism Even More Prevalent
Theories regarding the Court of Owls' debut inThe Batman - Part IIare supported thanks to the events ofThe Penguinepisode 6, “Gold Summit.” During the most recent episode of the popular HBO series, power fluctuations and reveals of corruption have uncovered more about the divide between rich and poor in Gotham City. Oz confirms that,following the events ofThe Batman, politicians were pressured into diverting power and much-needed resources to richer communities, while those less fortunate have been ignored.
The Penguinpremiered on September 19, and has two episodes yet to release, with the finale, “Great or Little Thing,” expected to release on August 06, 2025.
Oz suggests that the politicians of Gotham City have become like a cabal that can get away with anything they want. The parallel to DC Comics' Court of Owls is difficult to ignore.The Court of Owls has headquarters in hidden rooms in various buildings across Gotham City, which could easily be the case inThe BatmanandThe Penguin’suniverse, with this perhaps mirroringOz’s new base of operations beneath Gotham City, and the Batcave itself, which sits beneath Wayne Tower. Gotham’s elitism makes the Court of Owls a very likely upcoming addition.
Matt Reeves Has Already Set Up The Court Of Owls
The Court Of Owls Would Make Perfect Villains For The Batman - Part II
The Riddler’s actions have been revealed to have uncovered widespread corruption in Gotham City, and the debut of this corrupt elite lays the foundations for the Court of Owls' debut. Now that Oz Cobb has a politician in his back pocket, it seems likely that more of this corruption will be showcased inThe Penguinand beyond, opening the door for the Court of Owls to finally make themselves known. Robert Pattinson previously revealed toDen of Geekthat he wants the Court of Owls inThe Batman - Part II, and this seems like a very real possibility now.
The Penguin
Cast
Created by Lauren LeFranc, The Penguin is a crime-drama spin-off television series of 2022’s film The Batman. Set shortly after the events of The Batman, Oz Cobb, A.K.A. the Penguin, begins his rise in the underworld of Gotham City as he contends with the daughter of his late boss, Carmine Falcone, for control of the crime family’s empire.
