When a movie gets a TV spinoff, there’s often a noticeable difference in quality. Secret Invasion doesn’t look nearly as big and cinematic as The Marvels, nor does The Continental looks as eye-popping as the John Wick movies. But director Craig Zobel’s aim with The Penguin, for which he helms the first three episodes, was to make the visual transition from The Batman to its HBO spinoff as seamless as possible.
“I was very eager to make it look like the film, at least at the beginning,” Zobel tells Inverse. “Simply because we can now finish watching The Batman on Max and then immediately press another button and start watching The Penguin.”
