The Penguin is an American crime drama television miniseries developed by Lauren LeFranc for HBO. Based on the DC Comics character Penguin, it is a spin-off from the film The Batman (2022) that explores the Penguin's rise to power in Gotham City's criminal underworld. LeFranc serves as the showrunner of the series, which is produced by DC Studios in association with Warner Bros. Television.
Colin Farrell stars as the Penguin, reprising his role from The Batman, alongside Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz, Deirdre O’Connell, Clancy Brown, Carmen Ejogo, Michael Zegen, Berto Colón, James Madio, Joshua Bitton, David H. Holmes, Daniel J. Watts, Ben Cook, Jayme Lawson, Michael Kelly, Mark Strong, Scott Cohen, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Theo Rossi, Aleska Palladino, Craig Walker, Tess Soltau, and Marié Botha. Development was underway by September 2021, and HBO Max ordered it in March 2022, after The Batman was released. The film's director, Matt Reeves, supervised the writing and was involved in hiring the creative team. Filming began in March 2023 in New York, but was halted in June by the 2023 Hollywood labor disputes. Production resumed in late November and concluded in February 2024. The series moved from HBO Max's successor Max to HBO in July 2024. Craig Zobel directed the first three episodes.
The Penguin premiered in the United States on HBO on September 19, 2024, and is set to run for eight episodes until November 10.
Premise
[edit]Following the events of The Batman (2022),[3] the series explores the rise to power of Oswald "Oz" Cobb / The Penguin in Gotham City's criminal underworld.[4]
Cast and characters
[edit]Main
[edit]- Colin Farrell as Oswald "Oz" Cobb / The Penguin:
The disfigured former chief lieutenant of deceased crime boss Carmine Falcone who is on the rise to becoming a criminal kingpin in his own right.[4][5] Farrell said the series would further explore the character's strength, awkwardness, and villainy as well as the "heartbroken man inside there" beyond his introduction in The Batman (2022).[6] For the series, the character's surname is shortened to "Cobb" from "Cobblepot", which is used in the comics, because the production found it to be a more grounded and real name.[7] - Cristin Milioti as Sofia Falcone / The Hangman:
Carmine's daughter and a psychopathic serial killer who, after being released from Arkham Asylum, fights Oz for control of Gotham City's criminal underworld.[8][9] - Rhenzy Feliz as Victor "Vic" Aguilar: A homeless teenager who becomes Oz's driver and personal enforcer.[10][11]
- Deirdre O'Connell as Francis Cobb: Oz's mother who suffers from early-onset dementia.[10][9]
- Clancy Brown as Salvatore Maroni: A mob boss and drug trafficker whose operation ended following a historic drug bust, in which Carmine was the informant.[12]
- Carmen Ejogo as Eve Karlo: A sex worker and Oz's lover.[10]
- Michael Zegen as Alberto Falcone: Carmine's son and Sofia's brother, who struggles with drug and alcohol addiction.[13][9]
- Berto Colón as Castillo: an enforcer of the Falcone organization loyal to Sofia.
- James Madio as Milos Grapa: A caporegime for the Falcone family and Carmine's former bodyguard.[10]
- Joshua Bitton as Mickey Stone
- David H. Holmes as Nick Fuchs
- Daniel J. Watts as Bruno Tess
- Ben Cook
- Jayme Lawson as Bella Reál: The mayor-elect of Gotham. Lawson reprises her role from The Batman.
- Michael Kelly as Johnny Viti: The underboss of the Falcone crime family and acting boss following Carmine's death.[14]
- Mark Strong as Carmine Falcone:
A deceased Gotham crime boss and the father of Sofia, Alberto, and Selina Kyle. Strong replaces John Turturro, who portrayed the older character in The Batman. Falcone appears in several flashback scenes as a younger man.[15] - Scott Cohen as Luca Falcone: Carmine's brother and a senior member of the Falcone crime family.[10]
- Shohreh Aghdashloo as Nadia Maroni: Salvatore's wife.[10]
- Theo Rossi as Julian Rush: A doctor in Arkham and Sofia's therapist.[10]
- Aleksa Palladino as Carla Viti
- Craig Walker as Detective Marcus Wise: A corrupt cop who is working for Sofia.[16]
Actors cast in undisclosed roles include François Chau and Jared Abrahamson.[17]