The world of Matt Reeves’ The Batman is already getting bigger. Following the film’s huge opening weekend success, HBO Max has made an official straight-to-series order for one of its rogue’s gallery members.
Titled, The Penguin, the spinoff show will focus on the iconic villain and expand on the world created in The Batman.
Colin Farrell will once again don the facial prosthetics that made him so unrecognizable and return as Oswald Cobblepot/Penguin. He will also serve as an executive producer alongside Matt Reeves, Dylan Clark (producer on The Batman and Reeves’ Planet of the Apes sequels), and Lauren LeFranc (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.).
News of the potential spinoff dates back to September 2021, when it was reported that the show would put a “Scarface-like” twist on The Penguin’s origin story. Unconfirmed reports also suggest the series could follow in the footsteps of James Gunn’s Peacemaker and receive an “R” rating.
Reeves spoke about his excitement for the project, saying:
“Colin exploded off the screen as the Penguin in ‘The Batman,’ and having the chance to thoroughly explore the inner life of that character on HBO Max is an absolute thrill. Dylan and I are so excited to work with Lauren in continuing Oz’s story as he grabs violently for power in Gotham.”
Farrell added his thoughts, saying:
“The world that Matt Reeves created for ‘The Batman’ is one that warrants a deeper gaze through the eyes of Oswald Cobblepot. I couldn’t be more excited about continuing this exploration of Oz as he rises through the darkened ranks to become The Penguin. It will be good to get him back on the streets of Gotham for a little madness and a little mayhem.”
Given the early critical and commercial success of The Batman, it comes as no surprise that HBO are pushing forward with the series. There are also plans for another spinoff which is now set to focus on Arkham Asylum.
Expect The Penguin to release on HBO Max sometime in 2023.
And be sure to check out our video panel discussion of The Batman below.
