While The Batman franchise has many highlights, one of the most praised elements by Batman fans since the release of the first film has been the depiction of Gotham CityThe city is as dark as it is disturbing and manages to perfectly capture the atmosphere of the comics, and this result is due, in large part, to the influence of a blockbuster film released in the early 70s.
In an interview with MovieWeb, Penguin production designer Kalina Ivanov revealed that Matt Reeves wanted his version of Gotham to be inspired by the New York portrayed in the film. The French Connection (Against the drug empire in Spain).
“Matt told us he really wanted us to base it on The French Connection,” said Ivanov, who explained that they used this classic directed by William Friedkin to define the architecture of Gotham, highlighting the underpasses, bridges and low arches.
Ivanov also mentioned that another great inspiration for bringing the city to life was Batman: Year Oneone of the masterpieces of Frank Miller, where Gotham is shown with very dark color palettes. The Penguin is currently available on Max, while The Batman 2 will be released in theaters on October 2, 2026.
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