HBO released a preview of its slate for the next two years and within it came a new look at DC’sThe Penguinspinoff series. TheColin Farrell-led offshoot ofMatt Reeves’sThe Batmanrecently restarted production afterpausing amid the ongoing writer’s strike, and the footage offers a bleak new glimpse into the world of the Caped Crusader’s iconic nemesis. Furthermore, it’s confirmation that, despite the delays, the series is on track to arrive exclusively on Max sometime in 2024.
The full slate preview opens with Farrell narrating “This is one of those moments where you ask yourself, ‘What do I want?” as the actor’s titular crime lord appears on-screen with a devious smile. Further in the video, we get to see him at work. Following an ominous shot of him flipping his lighter open over dinner,the skyline of Gotham appearsas he remarks how the world isn’t made for people like him. This kingpinapparently won’t be afraid to get his hands dirtyas he’s shown menacingly carrying a sledgehammer and hauling a body out of the trunk of a car. He has a lot of work to do as he plotshis rise to the top of the Gotham crime world, and there are no lengths he seems unwilling to go to if it means ruling over all.
Kicking off Reeves’s expanded Bat-verse,The Penguinkicks off in the aftermath of the director’s gritty blockbuster take on the Dark Knight. While that film had Oswald Cobblepot working as the right-hand man of Carmine Falcone (John Turturro), he’ll finally seize the opportunity to take over Gotham now that his old boss is done and dusted. Billed as aScarface-like tale,the eight-episode serieswill give him the longer character arc he deserves, showing how he employs strategy and cunning to maneuver his way into a position of supreme power. His risewill be the lead-intoThe Batman: Part Twowhich is currently slated to hit theaters on June 10, 2025.
Who Is Bound for Gotham in ‘The Penguin’?
Although the road has been somewhat long and winding forThe Penguin, things seem firmly on track now with a cast to die for alongside the Oscar-nominated Farrell.Cristin Miliotiwill play one of Oz’s chief rivals for power, Sofia Falcone, withMichael Kelly,Shohreh Aghdashloo,Deirdre O’Connell,Clancy Brown, andTheo Rossirounding out the bunch. On the creative end, Reeves is heavily involved as an executive producer, ensuring that this will be right in line with what fans saw inThe Batman. This is only the beginning ofa much wider plan for Reevesas healso has an Arkham Asylumand GCPD series on the way.
The Penguinstill has no release date,but is planned for 2024. Readour full guide to the series herefor everything we know so far about theBatmanspinoff.
The Penguin
It follows the transformation of Oswald Cobblepot from a disfigured nobody to a noted Gotham gangster.
