'The Penguin' - Season 1 Episode Release Dates, Cast, Trailer

The Penguin Official Synopsis

Season 1 starts Thursday 19th September 2024 // Network: HBO

"Witness the transformation of Oswald Cobblepot, A.K.A. the Penguin, from a disfigured nobody to a noted Gotham gangster. He begins his rise in the underworld of Gotham City as he contends with the daughter of his late boss, Carmine Falcone, for control of the crime family's empire."

Why You Should Watch 'The Penguin'

Gotham, as we've come to know it, is a city of shadows, where moral ambiguities fester and heroes emerge not from the light, but from the deepest recesses of darkness. The recent portrayal of this infamous city in Matt Reeves' The Batman gave us a version of Gotham that is both familiar and hauntingly new. But it wasn't just Robert Pattinson's brooding Caped Crusader that captivated audiences. There was another figure, lurking in the background, who managed to steal the spotlight with a mere glance or a smirk - a grotesque yet mesmerizing figure that we now know as The Penguin.

Colin Farrell's turn as Oswald Cobblepot, or "Oz" as he's known to his less fortunate acquaintances, was a revelation. Encased in prosthetics that rendered him almost unrecognizable, Farrell delivered a performance that was as much a triumph of makeup artistry as it was of character study. He embodied a man whose grotesque exterior was matched by an equally twisted psyche - one that makes him as dangerous as he is pitiable. The allure of this character has not gone unnoticed. HBO, ever eager to expand its corner of the DC universe, has greenlit a spin-off series centered entirely on Farrell's Penguin. This marks not just an expansion of the universe, but a deep dive into the murky waters of Gotham's criminal underbelly. Where Batman treads lightly, the Penguin waddles boldly.

A Plot Thick with Intrigue

What can we expect from this new series? The details remain tantalizingly vague, but the foundation is clear. Set in the immediate aftermath of The Batman, the series will chart Oz's ascension through Gotham's crime ranks. We'll see him move from being a mere lackey of Carmine Falcone to carving out his own bloody empire. If Reeves' Gotham is a city that breeds corruption, then Oz is one of its most cunning offspring. This isn't just another crime show. It's a character study wrapped in noir, driven by the tension between Oz's ruthless ambition and the inherent loneliness that accompanies it. Unlike the bombastic villains we've seen in previous Batman adaptations, this Penguin is all about the slow burn - an iceberg waiting to capsize any who underestimate its depth.

This does however mark yet another in a growing of list of Batman-adjacent properties that are devoid of the manBat. In the early 2000s there was Birds of Prey, characters (and later actors) of who would then show up in various Arrowverse shows (which was a whole universe of shows (noteably Arrow and The Flash) centered around a team that traditionally includes Batman), leading into Batwoman. Detective James Gordon was the focus of Gotham, and actually had Oswald running amok at times, but still no Batman. Pennyworth was based on the final member of the usual trio, but was set before Alfred even started working for the Waynes, years before Bruce, and therefore Batman, was born. Gotham Knights did manage to include the Dark Knight, for a bit of one episode, before he was murdered, setting off a spiral of events leading to the Court of Owls. Some have had more success than others, but Batman is always missed by the audience. Will The Penguin break this cycle?

Behind the Camera

Reeves, who redefined Gotham in his latest cinematic outing, remains deeply involved, though the series itself will be helmed by rival company Marvel's Agents of SHIELD producer Lauren LeFranc. And what of Farrell? The actor, who could easily have turned down a TV role after his recent successes, seems genuinely excited to return. There's something about this character, this world, that has gripped him. Perhaps it's the opportunity to explore a figure who, despite his repulsive exterior, is strangely relatable. Oz, in all his villainy, is still a man searching for respect, power, and perhaps even a little love.

The Broader Picture

HBO Max's commitment to expanding the Batman universe is evident, with this Penguin series being just one of several spin-offs planned. Reeves is also developing shows set in both Gotham City Police Dept, and Arkham Asylum. But there's something particularly intriguing about this project. It's not just another tale of heroism or moral struggle. It's a descent into the gray areas that define Gotham - a journey into the heart of a villain who might, in another life, have been the hero of his own story.

In a world where superhero content often leans towards the epic and the bombastic, The Penguin promises to be something different: a slow, methodical exploration of power, identity, and the lengths to which a man will go to redefine both. If the series captures even a fraction of the menace and pathos that Farrell brought to the role in The Batman, it will be well worth the journey. We (mostly) enjoyed the Arrowverse for years, now is the rise of the Batverse... Just without the Bat...

As the series inches closer to its debut, one thing is certain: Gotham's underworld has never looked so inviting, or so terrifying.

Who Is In 'The Penguin'?

Colin Farrell plays the titular character of Oswald Cobblepot, a.k.a. The Penguin, a disfigured former chief lieutenant of deceased crime boss Carmine Falcone, with the aim to take over the empire and become a kingpin himself. While better known as a film actor, Farrell got his big break on UK TV, on the BBCs Ballykissangel in the late 90s. After taking the lead in the Season 2 of True Detective, he would spend nearly another decade away from the small screen. In 2024, the Batman spin off has not been his only endeavour, he also took the lead in the mystery drama Sugar from Apple TV+.

Cristin Milioti, famous for being the long unseen titular Mother in How I Met Your Mother, portrays Sofia Falcone, daughter of Carmine, who has her own aspirations on claiming the criminal underworld for herself. She wasn't seen in the film as she was incarcerated in Arkham Asylum, but is released to go head to head with Oswald. Milioti was recently seen in The Resort, the dark comedy mystery series on Peacock network.

Michael Kelly plays Johnny Viti, the previous underboss of the Falcone crime family. Will he side with the family and Sofia, or join the powerful new force of The Penguin risin from the ranks? Kelly has been a force in film and television for some time now, with recent high level credits including House of Cards, Jack Ryan and Lioness.

Clancy Brown, a fan favourite with a prodigious film and television, is seen as Salvatore Maroni, the previous crime boss of the Maroni family, who allowed Falcone to rise to power. He spent a lot of time in the nightclub owned by Cobblepot, and gained a respect for him. Maroni was betrayed by Falcone during this take over of the criminal underworld, with Falcone even theorising that Maroni was behind the murder of Thomas and Martha Wayne, leading to the inception of Batman. Last year Brown had small roles in both Ahsoka and Gen V.

Shohreh Aghdashloo portrays Nadia Maroni, a familia relative of Salvatore, and the current mob boss of the Maroni family. Aghdashloo is an absolute force in every role she takes on, having stolen the show, quite literally, in her role as Chrisjen Avasarala in The Expanse.

When Will New 'The Penguin' Episodes Be Released On HBO?

HBO is apparently giving The Penguin a massive push out of the gate, with the first episode landing late on Thursday the 19th of September 2024. It will be shown "multiple times" over the next 10 days before the second episode arrives in its ongoing timeslot of Sunday, until mid November. There are 8 episodes of the mini-series.

Watch the Official 'The Penguin' Trailer

Is This Just The Start of the TV DCEU?

The series carries on from Matt Reeves 2022 film, and will take place in Gotham just weeks after The Riddler flooded the city. We might not see the Riddler, but he will be a spectre on everyones back. While storylines change, in the comics Clancy Browns Salvatore Maroni once threw acid on the face of Harvey Dent in court, leading to the rise of Two Face. Robert Pattinson was rumoured to be involved in The Penguin, then firmly denied, but the latest from the producers is that "Batman is not in the film", which still leads the door open for Bruce Wayne to make a surprise appearance and boost those viewing figures... After all, it has been confirmed that this mini-series is the bridge between the 2022 film and the second in this new universe, scheduled for 2026. Colin Farrell is due to appear in that film also: we have yet to see in what capacity the character will be involved...