In 2022, DC released The Batman, directed by Matt Reeves, which was the eighth standalone film of the Cape Crusader after Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises in 2012. The Batman (2022) focuses on the early lives of Bruce Wayne as Batman in Gotham, fighting criminals. However, the main antagonist of this movie was the Riddler, played by Paul Dano, who is still the character who leaves a long-lasting impact on the audience in The Penguin, played by Colin Farrell. James Gunn, the current CEO of the DC Studios, has made the decision to give the audience what they want: a spin-off series featuring Penguin rinsing in power in Gotham’s underworld.
The New DC
In October 2022, James Gunn was named the CEO of the DC Studio, promising a complete do-over of the DCU, which was continuously losing the race against its arch-nemesis, Marvel. Although movies like Aquaman (2018) and Wonder Woman (2017) were box office successes, DC was still struggling to match the success of Marvel studios, which had IPs like Captain America, The Avengers and Iron Man.
Originally, The Batman standalone movie was directed by Ben Affleck, also featuring him as Batman. In this movie, the idea was to include Batgirl, Red Hood and Deathstroke, creating an action-packaged movie experience. However, this idea was scrapped by DC, and Matt Reeves was given full creative freedom to tell a story about a more “human” Batman fighting crimes in Gotham, which has given us the Penguin.
The vision of Zack Snyder was different; in movies like Batman vs Superman: The Dawn of Justice and Justice League, Batman was literally portrayed as a demigod who could easily fight with powerful beings like Steppenwolf and even Darkside. However, the vision of Matt Reeves is to depict Batman as a superhero who has the courage and undying willpower to fight crime with some graduates. For this Batman, fighting crime bosses like the Penguin is a challenging task. This version of Batman is still learning how to handle these criminals who have ruled Gotham cities for years.
The release date of Penguin for HBO and Max has been revealed.
The new HBO Original Limited series The Penguin is premiering on September 19th at 9 P.M. ET/PT with two episodes. Each new episode of this new TV show will be released on Sundays at 9 P.M. It is expected that the Penguin will have a total of 8 episodes, meaning this series will end in November or early December of 2024.
What is The Penguin about?
This spin-off primarily focuses on Oswald “Oz” Cobblepot (aka the Penguin) rising in power in Gotham’s underworld after the Gotham City flood, which was the final act in The Batman (2022). The showrunner of this web series, Lauren LeFranc, has confirmed that this show will be the bridge between The Batman (2022) and the upcoming sequel in 2026, which is now known as the “Batman Epic Crime Saga.”
In this show the backstory and personal life of the Penguin will be portrayed. As per the report, the relationship between the Penguin and his mother and Carmine Falcone’s daughter Sofia will be explored. Sofia has been recently released from the infamous Arkham Asylum, and she might claim her father’s throne, which is also targeted by the Penguin.
Colin Farrell, who is playing the lead role in this highly anticipated show, has mentioned that it is really dark and does not hesitate to show extremely violent and gore scenes. According to this seasoned actor, the show will focus on the rise in the power of one man after the death of the notorious crime boss Falcone at the end of The Batman (2022). For years, Falcone was the top player in Gotham’s underworld scene, and his unexpected death has created a vacuum.
The main plot of The Penguin revolves around his rise to the top position by overcoming all the obstacles. This show will not focus on the Dark Knight, but the focus will be on the underworld of Gotham and the power struggles. However, the main crime bosses of Gotham, namely the Joker, Two-Face, Bane and Black Mask, will not be present in this show because the spotlight is on the Penguin.
Camoes: What to expect
There are rumours that Robert Pattinson, who played the character of Batman in the 2022 movie, might have a cameo in this show. If it is true, then we might be able to observe iconic clashes between Batman and the Penguin increasing the excitement of the hard-core DC fans.
There are also rumours that the Court of Owls might make a surprise appearance in this show. As per the comics the Court of Owls is an ancient society which have controlled the Gotham city for centuries, mostly from the shadows. This Court is made up of wealthy and influential individuals who have strong ties with the underworld. This organisation only appears whenever there are any major changes happening in Gotham City.
The Court of Owls might be moving because of the death of Falcone and the power struggles in which the Penguin have become a leading player. In the past, the Court of Owls has only made an appearance in the animated movie Batman vs Robin (2015); in live-action, there is no presence of this iconic group to date.
The new trailer takes the internet by storm.
HBO has recently released Teaser Trailer 2 for the Penguin show, which has created a buzz among the fan base. The trailer starts with a voiceover, “You know what I like most about you, Oz? You are who you are. And you couldn’t change if you tried.” Then, the scene shifts towards a flashback, where we see how Penguin has slowly climbed the ladder in Gotham’s underworld.
The trailer showcased that Penguin has always wanted to rise to the top of the crime scene of Gotham, and he does not care how much blood he needs to spill to fulfil his dream. Sofia and Oz might be working together to rule the underworld of this city as the trailer ends with Penguin declaring himself as the new Kingpin of Gotham. From the trailer, it can be mentioned that this new show, which is premiering in September, will be a thrilling ride were we will be able to see great drama and action pieces.
FAQ
When will The Penguin Show be released?
Penguin is premiering on September 19th at 9 P.M ET/PT with two episodes.
Where will this show premiere?
This show will premiere on HBO and it will also be available in the streaming service provider Max.
Is Max available in India?
Max is not currently available in India.
How can I watch the Penguin show in India?
There are two options, the first is using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to access the services of Max from India. On 20th September, this show will air in India on Jio Cinema and Prime Videos.
What is the parental advisory for the Penguin?
The Penguin might be a PG-13 show mainly because of the use of strong language and explicit fight scenes.
