The Penguin: Release date, cast, trailer, news for The Batman spin-off
Colin Farrell's Batman baddie steps out of the shadows this weekend.
The world of 2022 blockbuster The Batman is expanding with the launch of spin-off series The Penguin, which picks up with Colin Farrell's sinister villain as he attempts to make a play for Gotham City.
The actor, known for The Banshees of Inisherin and The Gentlemen among other credits, is almost unrecognisable in the DC show, donning substantial prosthetics to transform into the crime lord.
While Batman (Robert Pattinson) himself won't be appearing in the miniseries, Sofia Falcone aka The Hangman (Cristin Milioti) will be making her debut, following the murder of her father, Carmine (John Turturro), in the earlier film.
Those who enjoyed the dark tone of Matt Reeves's epic will find a lot to enjoy here, with The Penguin capturing all the grittiness while providing a fresh perspective on the dangerous streets of Gotham City – courtesy of showrunner Lauren LeFranc.
Read on for everything you need to know about The Penguin, as the hotly anticipated show premieres on Sky Atlantic and NOW this weekend.
The Penguin release date
The Penguin will premiere on Sky Atlantic and NOW on Friday 20th September, airing first at 2am (coinciding with US debut) and again at the more reasonable time of 9pm.
The show will get off to an irregular start, with episode 2 not arriving until Monday 30th September (again at 2am and 9pm), but it will commence a regular rhythm from there – dropping one new episode per week every Monday.
The US rollout is slightly different, however, with the show debuting on HBO and Max on Thursday 19th September, before taking a break until Sunday 29th September, and airing regularly on Sundays thereafter.
The Penguin first entered developed all the way back in September 2021, with the series receiving an order from HBO following the success of 2022 blockbuster The Batman.
Filming began in March 2023 but was halted due to the Hollywood labour disputes. Production resumed in November and finished in February 2024.
When the series was first announced, Farrell said: "The world that Matt Reeves created for The Batman is one that warrants a deeper gaze through the eyes of Oswald Cobblepot.
"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."
Showrunner Lauren LeFranc said: "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?"
The Penguin cast: Who will star in HBO series?
The Penguin stars Colin Farrell as the titular Batman villain, who is attempting to consolidate his power in the world of organised crime after suffering quite a bruising in his 2022 film debut.
Cristin Milioti (Palm Springs) co-stars as Sofia Falcone, the daughter of crime lord Carmine Falcone (John Turturro), who was executed by The Riddler during the events of The Batman.
The actor told Total Film: "Sofia has a cauldron bubbling inside her at all times, and she’s in the most unsafe place she could possibly be. Hong low can she swallow this for, sit on this volcano, until it finally erupts?"
Fans shouldn't expect to see many familiar faces from The Batman, least of all the vigilante himself, with Robert Pattinson confirmed not to be appearing in any episodes of the series.
The Penguin showrunner Lauren LeFranc explained (via SFX Magazine): "I understand why people’s desire would be to have Batman, or to think that unless Batman’s in a show or a film then it doesn’t have the same punch.
"To me, I think it packs a different punch. Matt’s films are through the lens of the Batman, so you’re high up, looking down on the city. It’s a different perspective. With Oz, you’re in the city streets, you’re in the grit and the muck and the grime.
"He’s looking up, wanting to claw his way to the top."
Here's a full list of actors set to appear in The Penguin:
- Colin Farrell as Oz Cobb/Penguin
- Cristin Milioti as Sofia Falcone/Hangman
- Rhenzy Feliz as Victor Aguilar
- Michael Kelly as Johnny Vitti
- Shohreh Aghdashloo as Nadia Maroni
- Deirdre O'Connell as Francis Cobb
- Clancy Brown as Salvatore Maroni
- James Madio as Milos Grapa
- Scott Cohen as Luca Falcone
- Michael Zegen as Alberto Falcone
- Theo Rossi as Julian Rush
- Carmen Ejogo as Eve Karlo
- François Chau as TBC
- David H. Holmes as TBC
- Craig Walker as TBC
- Jared Abrahamson as TBC
- Mark Strong as TBC
What will happen in The Penguin?
The Penguin will explore Oz Cobb's rise to power in Gotham's criminal underworld following the events of The Batman.
Farrell also gave us a clue as to what to expect when he told RadioTimes.com: "What an adventure. I never have any idea what any of this s**t is going to turn out to be, that we do over the years. You just keep your fingers crossed and do the best you can…
"It’s dark, The Penguin. It’s so dark. I’m so glad to be done with it, and I loved it, but man I was ready not to sit in the makeup chair anymore when we finished."
When is The Penguin set?
The Penguin will pick up one week after the events of The Batman.
How many episodes will there be of The Penguin?
The Penguin will consist of eight episodes, released weekly.
Is there a trailer for The Penguin?
Yes! Check out the trailer from San Diego Comic Con below:
The Penguin is set for release on Sky and NOW on Thursday 19th September.
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