Colin Farrell’s ‘The Batman’ Penguin Scores Own Series

The show, in development for a while, has been handed an official series order by HBO Max.

Colin Farrell as Oswald Cobblepot/the Penguin in Warner Bros. Pictures’ action adventure 'The Batman,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Jonathan Olley/™ & © DC Comics. Copyright: © 2021 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Colin Farrell clearly didn’t mind wearing prosthetics to play the Penguin in ‘The Batman’ – as he’s set to slap them on again for a fair bit longer. The actor is now attached to star in a spin-off TV series featuring his character for HBO Max.

Originally reported as in development back in September last year (a clear vote of confidence from Warner Bros., as the movie was still months from release), the show is moving forward from the pilot stage with a straight-to-series order.

The series, which has been described as in the style of classic crime drama ‘Scarface’ will pick up the story of ambitious criminal type Oswald “Oz” Cobblepot as he rises to power in Gotham City. Mild spoiler alert in case you’ve yet to see ‘The Batman’, but part of the movie involves Oz’s bosses either dying or heading to jail, leaving him a path to achieve his aims.

Yet given that there’s a whole series to fill with this story, we doubt the road will be an easy one. And there’s still that pesky Caped Crusader lurking around (even if Batman likely wouldn’t appear much in the show).

Matt Reeves, who co-wrote and directed ‘The Batman’ is an executive producer here, but while he’ll certainly have input (alongside the movie’s fellow producer, Dylan Clark), he won’t be overseeing the day-to-day work of the show. That job falls to Lauren LeFranc, who has worked on series including ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’, ‘Chuck’ and ‘Hemlock Grove’.

“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’” Reeves says in a statement. “Dylan and I are so excited to work with Lauren in continuing Oz’s story as he grabs violently for power in Gotham.”

“I have long been a fan of the world of ‘The Batman’, and Matt’s film is such a powerful and bold entry into the canon. I am excited and humbled to continue telling stories in the grimy world of Gotham City – and what better excuse to channel my inner villain than to tell the story of Oswald Cobblepot?” adds LeFranc. “I am thrilled to work with Colin, Matt, Dylan, 6th & Idaho, Warners, and HBO Max as we work to bring this story to the screen.”

“The world that Matt Reeves created for ‘The Batman’ is one that warrants a deeper gaze through the eyes of Oswald Cobblepot,” Farrell comments. “I couldn’t be more excited about continuing this exploration of Oz as he rises through the darkened ranks to become The Penguin. Will be good to get him back on the streets of Gotham for a little madness and a little mayhem.”

This news comes on the heels of word that another ‘Batman’ spin-off, one focused on the corrupt Gotham PD from the POV of one of its cops, has been tabled for now, with Reeves and the rest focusing instead on developing a series about Arkham Asylum. You can read more about that change right here.

As for when the Penguin series might see the light of day? That all depends on how quickly it all comes together. Yet we’d imagine Warners Bros. would want to have it out as soon as possible, especially since ‘The Batman’ recently crossed $300 million at the worldwide box office. Holy earning power, Batman!