Gotham: Detailed Photo Tour of Thomas Wayne’s Underground Office

When you head to Gotham City, you expect a few things: over-the-top, crazy villains, darkness and/or rain nearly every day, and a cave or two holding some of the world’s greatest secrets.

Thankfully for Gotham’s upcoming second season, the last element is joining the mix with the reveal of Thomas Wayne’s secret office, hidden deep beneath Wayne Manor. Discovered (or at least hinted at) in the season one finale, young Bruce Wayne will now set up shop largely in his deceased father’s mysterious home-underneath-home, where he’ll find out there is so much more to Gotham City than he ever knew.

But DC Entertainment and Warner Bros are very careful not to call this “the Batcave,” especially since at this point in Gotham’s history, there’s no Batman to have a Batcave. Yes, this office is underneath Wayne Manor. Yes, it’s in a cave. But that’s as far as that connection goes for now.

When I interviewed star David Mazouz on this very set, however, its connection to the overall mythos of Batman wasn’t lost on him.

“It’s magnificent; it really is breathtaking,” the young Bruce Wayne actor said. “Everybody that walks onto this set has the same reaction. You walk onto this set and it’s really mind blowing!”

The set holds a utility belt of secrets, from old technology to piles and cabinets full of files. A gold gleam lines the walls, and while post production will make it look a little darker and grimier, any Bat-fan who steps onto that floor can feel the sense of anticipation it creates. The idea that someday this could be the inspiration for the Batcave, or an encounter with that totemic animal could trigger a calling for the young Bruce is enough to make you shiver with excitement. And that’s without seeing even one second of footage on the set.

Take a photo tour through the set in the gallery below, and tune into Gotham Season 2 starting September 21 at 8:00 p.m. on Fox.