Batman fans were treated to an unexpectedly delightful surprise when they got their first good look at Colin Ferrell's wild transformation into Oswald Cobblepot/The Penguin in recent teasers and images for the Robert Pattinson-led film The Batman. But it turns out the character's impact may go more than just skin deep. Viewers can now expect to get even more of the grotesque villain thanks to a brand new spinoff.

After a potential spinoff featuring The Penguin was teased several months ago, it seems the project has finally received both the green light and its leading man. Ferrell has just signed on as star and executive producer for the upcoming unnamed series, cementing his impact in the Gotham underworld before The Batman has even come out. The series will stream exclusively on HBO Max, finding a home among the rest of the service's plentiful DC offerings, including another spinoff focused on the Gotham City police department.

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The Batman director Matt Reeves will join Ferrell as executive producer, along with Dylan Clark who also produced the film. Lauren LeFranc, perhaps best known for producing a good chunk of Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. as well as penning several episodes of NBC spy comedy Chuck, will write the series script. The spinoff will supposedly focus on The Penguin's rise through the ranks of Gotham City's criminal underworld.

Colin Farrell as the Penguin, The Batman

Similar to how Marvel greenlit a Hawkeye spinoff with Alaqua Cox as Echo before that show even began airing, it seems as though Ferrell's performance made such an impact on set and in test screenings that the higher-ups already want more. Given his over-the-top energy in the trailer for The Batman, it's not difficult to see why they think The Penguin can carry his own series. Even after a few viewings, it's still easy to forget that the Irish actor is the same person who captured the hearts of millions in Alexander under all that makeup.

Ferrell seemingly hasn't slowed down at all in his film and TV career, appearing in recent hits like BBC's The North Water and 2015 dystopian film The Lobster. That's not even to mention the several upcoming projects he has on track, even aside from The Batman and its spinoff. It's good to see such a prolific actor still cranking out new stuff even after all this time.

However it turns out, The Penguin's series will be in good company on HBO Max, especially with fantastic shows like Harley Quinn and the highly-anticipated spinoff of The Suicide Squad starring John Cena as Peacemaker. Here's hoping the wait for this isn't quite as agonizing as it's been for The Batman.

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Source: Variety