The Batman spin-off TV show shares disappointing update

The Batman director Matt Reeves has said that the film's prequel series at HBO Max has been put on ice.

Ever since its inception two years ago, this spin-off seemed doomed to never see the light of day, with showrunner Terence Winter departing after just three months on the job.

Then, Colin Farrell's Penguin was awarded his own TV project last year – stealing all of the thunder in the process.

Related: The Batman's Paul Dano creeped out Matt Reeves with Riddler preparation

Appearing on yesterday's (March 7) edition of the Happy, Sad, Confused podcast, Reeves shared an update on where the Gotham City Police Department drama was at in terms of development.

"That one actually is put on hold. We're not really doing that," he told host Josh Horowitz.

"The series was going to be kind of like 'Prince of the City,' where it was going to be Year One because the movie is Year Two, and I wanted it to be the first appearance. But it wasn't going to be a Batman story.

"It was going to be about this corrupt cop, and it was going to be about how the worst gang in Gotham were the GCPD. And [Bruce Wayne] would have touched paths with [Commissioner] Gordon. It would have been someone to measure him against, but it would be a battle for his soul."

Related: The Batman's Matt Reeves addresses runtime criticism

However, a separate Batman spin-off from DC, Gotham Knights, is still in the works.

From Arrowverse exec Greg Berlanti's production company, this show begins in the wake of Bruce's death, as his son builds an unlikely alliance with the children of his dad's sworn enemies.

Framed for the Caped Crusader's demise, this group of misfits get together to prove their innocence before transforming into a new generation of heroes known as the Gotham Knights. An air date is yet to be set.

The Batman is now in cinemas.

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Dan Seddon

Reporter, Digital Spy 

Dan is a freelance entertainment journalist. Beginning his writing career in 2014, Dan's work first graced the pages of cult publications Starburst magazine and Little White Lies before moving onto Total Film, Digital Spy, NME and Yahoo Entertainment. 

In the film and TV universe, he kneels at the altar of Jim Carrey, Daniel Plainview, Mike Ehrmantraut and Paulie Walnuts.