In 2022, Matt Reeves has breathed new life into the iconic character of the Dark Knight. The Batman proved once again that a more adult approach to the superhero genre can bring success.
In his film, Reeves offered a new look not only at Bruce Wayne and Catwoman but also at Oswald Cobblepot, aka Penguin. One of Gotham’s most iconic criminals has appeared numerous times in the Caped Crusader films and series. So far, the most famous interpretation of this character belongs to Danny DeVito in Tim Burton’s Batman Returns.
In Matt Reeves’ film, Colin Farrell played the role and he was almost unrecognizable under a thick layer of makeup. The new version of the Penguin appealed to audiences so much that HBO decided to create a series covering the gangster’s march for power in Gotham City.
We have gathered for you all the essential information on this new production from the DC universe.
Potential release date for The Penguin
HBO has yet to set an exact release date for the series. Initially, The Penguin was scheduled to release on Max in spring 2024, but the premiere was pushed back. Most likely, the show will debut on the service in fall 2024.
HBO
The Penguin’s Plot
The series will resume right after the finale of The Batman film. The clash with the Riddler led Gotham City to ruin, with large areas of the city ending up underwater. Chaos also reigned in the criminal world which, after the death of mafia boss Carmine Falcone, found itself without direction.
Everything indicates that in the new HBO series, Penguin will try to seize power in the world of criminals – the creators describe the project as a story in the style of Scarface.
As Sarah Aubrey, head of originals at Max, said in an interview with Variety:
The point is to show what Oz’s life is like and it takes place on the streets of Gotham, trying to get back on his feet as only the Penguin can. As a hustler and strategist with his own ambitions. This is a great example of having time, over eight episodes, to tell a longer character story with lots of delightful twists and turns and new characters. It will essentially be street-level Gotham, since it doesn’t fly like Batman does. We all view this as a very specific experience that the audience can have.
More interestingly, The Penguin will serve as an introduction to The Batman: Part Two. It looks like the series is set to be a must-watch for all fans of the rebooted Dark Knight franchise.
The Penguin trailer
For now, HBO has only released a short teaser for the series:
The Penguin cast and crew
Not much is known about the casting yet, but the following actors are confirmed to star in The Penguin:
Colin Farrell – Oswald “Oz” Cobblepot / The Penguin
Cristin Milioti – Sofia Falcone, Carmine Falcone’s daughter
Michael Kelly – Johnny Vitti, the underboss of the Falcone crime family
Clancy Brown – Salvatore Maroni, a mafia boss
Michael Zegen – Alberto Falcone, Carmine’s son and Sofia’s brother
Rhenzy Féliz –Victor Aguilar
Deirdre O’Connell
Fans of the DC Universe are wondering if Robert Pattinson will appear in the series as Batman. It’s unclear if he will, but if he does, we suspect it will just be a cameo.
The series is created by Lauren LeFranc. Matt Reeves and Colin Farrell are, among others, executive producers.
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