The Batman may have to remain an Elseworlds project outside the DCU, along with The Penguin on Max, but it looks like Arkham wwill be inside the DCU tent. According to DC Studios co-chief James Gunn, director Matt Reeves’ currently in development series is part of Gunn and Peter Safran’s new DC Universe.
The Batman sequel and Max’s The Penguin series remain separate from the larger interconnected DC universe of that will begin proper with Superman: Legacy. He is also Executive Producer on the series to be set in Gotham City’s premiere mental instuitution and part time home of most of Batman’s rougues gallery.
According to the rules of Batman, Arkham exists within its own weather system where it always rains.
The project has been in development since 2020 and started life as a Gotham P.D.series acting as a prequel to The Batman. In development, this focus chnaged to the asylum. Filmmaker Antonio Campos was set as director, showrunner and co-executive producer.
This week, Gunn was on Threads once again, interacting with fans and was asked if Reeves will ever come across to the DCU. Gunn clarified that Arkham will be in the DCU, not the world of The Batman.
“Right now Matt is producing Arkham as a DCU series, so there’s just the two for now… We love Matt as a director and producer so he’ll be producing stories both within his The Batman universe and within the DCU.”
Gunn then added that the Arkham series was always planned to be thsi way and not an Elseworlds project. The Batman and Joker (plus sequels) remains set outside. Confusing, messy, and seemingly spunking the opportunity for a nice clean reboot free from the abject confusion that was the previosu efforts from Warner Bros. and The CW. Still, Warner gonna Warner.
The Penguin will debut late next year. Production on Arkham is yet to begin.
