The Penguin Release Date, Cast, Plot and Trailers

The Penguin was primarily seen as a comic relief in The Batman. But in his spin-off series, he delves further into the complex criminal underworld.

Bruce Wayne’s battle with the Riddler has left Gotham in ruins. On the remnants of the old order, new leaders rise to power and new alliances are formed.

Oswald Cobb, known as The Penguin, has appeared in several films and series about Batman. The most famous interpretation of this character so far was Danny DeVito in Tim Burton’s Batman Returns.

In Matt Reeves’ 2022 film, however, Colin Farrell took on the role, and he was nearly unrecognizable under a thick layer of makeup. The new version of the Penguin resonated so strongly with audiences that HBO decided to make a series about the gangster’s rise to power in Gotham City.

We’ve gathered all the essential information about this new production from the DC universe. You can also check out our official review after watching all eight episodes of the upcoming drama.

When is The Penguin coming out?

The show debuts in the US on HBO and Max on Thursday, September 19, 2024. The series will consist of eight episodes.

Although the episodes are airing simultaneously in the UK, viewers will see them the day after, Friday September 20, 2024because of the time difference.

The Penguin was originally scheduled to air in Max in spring 2024, but the premiere was postponed.

Where can you watch The Penguin in the UK?

DC fans in the UK can watch The Penguin on Sky TV and the Now streaming service.

Each episode airs weekly at the same time as it does in the United States and is available to stream shortly after its television premiere.

What is the plot of The Penguin?

The series begins immediately after the finale of the Batman film. The conflict with the Riddler led to the downfall of Gotham City, with large parts of the city flooded. Chaos also reigns in the criminal underworld, which is left without leadership after the death of mob boss Carmine Falcone.

In the new HBO series, Penguin tries to take over the world of criminals. The creators describe the project as a Scarface-esque story.

One of the main characters in the series is Sofia, the daughter of the late Carmine Falcone. She first appeared in comic books in 1997’s Batman: The Long Halloween. As a serial killer known as Hangman, she spent a year eliminating members of the Gotham City Police Department. However, she was released from prison early at her father’s request.

The Penguin seems to borrow at least some of Sofia’s comic book origins. In the latest trailer for the series, she appears as a power-hungry successor to Carmine, who will cause Oswald a lot of trouble.

Another important character in the series is Victor Aguilar. He is Penguin’s young chauffeur and protégé, who accompanies him during his struggle for power.

As Sarah Aubrey, Max’s head of original productions, said in an interview for Variety:

The purpose of this is to show what Oz’s life is like and that’s primarily on the streets of Gotham, where he’s trying to rise up and conquer in a way that only the Penguin can. As a businessman and a strategist with his own ambitions. It’s a great example of having the time to tell a story in eight episodes with a longer story arc with a lot of delightful twists and new characters. It’s really about Gotham on the street level, because he’s not flying around like Batman does. We embrace all of that as a very specific experience for the audience.

Even more interesting is that The Penguin will serve as an introduction to The Batman: Part Two. It seems like the series should be a must-see for all fans of the reboot of the Dark Knight franchise.

Is there a trailer for The Penguin?

The first teaser shows a bit of Penguin’s world:

The latest teaser for the show reveals a bloody power struggle between Gotham’s gangsters:

The official trailer, unveiled at San Diego Comic-Con 2024, reveals Oswald’s enemies and allies:

Here you can see more about the creation of the Penguin:

Who stars in The Penguin?

The following actors have been confirmed for the lead roles in The Penguin:

Colin Farrell – Oswald “Oz” Cobb / The Penguin
Christin Milioti – Sofia Falcone, daughter of Carmine Falcone
Michael Kelly – Johnny Vitti, the underboss of the Falcone crime family
Clancy Brown – Salvatore Maroni, a mafia boss
Michael Blessing – Alberto Falcone, Carmine’s son and Sofia’s brother
Happy Rhenzy –Victoria Aguilar
Deirdre O’Connell –Francis Cobb
Shohreh Aghdashloo –Nadia Maroni
James Madio – Milos Grapa
Scott Cohen – Luca Falcone
Carmen Ejogo – Eva Karlo
Theo Rossi – Dr. Julian Rush

Fans of the DC universe wondered if Robert Pattinson would appear in the series as Batman. However, that has now been disputed by Matt Reeves himself.

The series is created by Lauren LeFranc. Matt Reeves and Colin Farrell serve as executive producers, among others.

Will there be a second season of The Penguin?

HBO has yet to announce a new season of The Penguin. The first season will lead directly into The Batman: Part Two, so it will likely depend on what happens in that film, and whether the cast and crew are willing to return.

For Colin Farrell, the ordeal of going through all the makeup was a tough one for the series, according to GamesRadar. We may learn more after The Penguin debuts on TV and streaming services.