From the Hollywood Reporter interview article:

>Asked about why he joined *The Batman* as Commissioner James Gordon and how such a blockbuster fit into his other work, Wright shared: "I try to stay open to whatever is interesting to me – for example, the Batmans, and I say plural because I’m in the middle of filming the second one now."

>He continued: "I think [director] Matt Reeves’ interpretation of the franchise is really fresh, and rich in terms of the narrative, but also rich cinematically. I don’t think he views this as frivolous comic book stuff, but he views it as an opportunity to explore contemporary themes through a really dynamic medium that is the Batman franchise. He’s also a massive fan of the franchise, hugely enthusiastic about it, and it’s deeply meaningful for him."

>Wright also suggested: "These films, the first one and now working on this one, are films from an era that he and I, because we’re of a certain age, just revere, and those are films of the American cinema of the ’70s – Sidney Lumet films and films that Dustin Hoffman would have been a part of, [Francis Ford] Coppola and [Martin] Scorsese. He’s trying to use all of those as touchstones in these films that might, in other hands, not have anything to do, cinematically, with that type of filmmaking."

>He added, "I wouldn’t want to be a part of a big franchise just to be a part of a big franchise. But if it resonates with me in terms of the themes and the process and the narrative, then I’m in. It could be a big franchise. It could be an independent film. Doesn’t matter to me!"

[From the Variety interview article](https://variety.com/2026/film/global/jeffrey-wright-mbappe-batman-basquiat-1236806369/):

>Wright also opened up about upcoming *The Batman: Part II* and praised Matt Reeves’ "rich" interpretation of the famous franchise. 

>"Obviously, Batman is an iconic character. These characters have existed for so long – not because they’re superficial, but because there are layers there. The stories are grounded in morality plays and Matt has really tried to use that. It’s classic stuff," he noted. 

>"Matt fell in love with film through that golden era of American cinema. We would talk about *Taxi Driver* and this lone character who feels one against society. He’s translating this comic book story through something much more cinematically complex."

>Reeves has "intense, almost childlike wonder" about the franchise, he said.

>"And he’s got just boundless enthusiasm for it, and also for the craft of filmmaking. And he has a deep respect for film. It’s a great framework for this stuff. The screens have gotten oversaturated with comic book stuff, and some of it I found unwatchable, frankly. But this is different than most of it."

Jeffrey Wright on 'The Batman' franchise: "I think Matt Reeves' interpretation of the franchise is really fresh & rich in terms of the narrative, but also rich cinematically. I don’t think he views this as frivolous comic book stuff, but he views it as an opportunity to explore contemporary themes."