Given the success of The Batman, which opened to $134 million at the U.S. box office last week, it’s no surprise HBO Max has ordered a straight-to-series spinoff.
Tentatively titled The Penguin, the limited series sees Colin Farrell reprising his role as Batman’s adversary the Penguin and expands upon the world that director Matt Reeves created in the film.
“The world that Matt Reeves created for The Batman is one that warrants a deeper gaze through the eyes of Oswald Cobblepot,” said Farrell in a statement. “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.”
“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,” said Reeves. “Dylan and I are so excited to work with Lauren in continuing Oz’s story as he grabs violently for power in Gotham.”
The Penguin’s series order comes days after Reeves revealed a possible The Batman prequel project, which would have centered around a corrupt cop at the Gotham City Police Department, would not be moving forward.
Reeves, Farrell, Dylan Clark and Lauren LeFranc, who also writes and acts as showrunner, are executive producers on the program. The Penguin is produced by Reeves’ 6th & Idaho Productions and Dylan Clark Productions in cooperation with Warner Bros. Television, where Reeves and 6th & Idaho are under an overall agreement. It is based on characters developed for DC by Bob Kane with Bill Finger.
“We are thrilled to bring audiences a new version of this iconic DC character that they have never seen before,” said Sarah Aubrey, head of original content at HBO Max. “It is incredible to be working with Matt, Dylan and Lauren on continuing this story and to see Colin take his already exceptional performance in The Batman to the next level.”
“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,” said LeFranc. “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?”
Released in North American theaters March 4, The Batman, starring Robert Pattinson as the Caped Crusader, earned $134 million in North America and $124 million internationally in its opening weekend for a total of $258 million worldwide.