The Batman is set to release in March 2022 and the film is already setting up multiple spinoff series for HBO MAX. Now, the newest series in development will center on Colin Farrell's the Penguin.
Farrell, who will be taking on the Penguin in the upcoming film, was approached about continuing to play the role. The upcoming spinoff series, which is still very early in development, will be executively produced by Matt Reeves and Dylan Clark, the duo behind The Batman. The developing series will reportedly come from Reeves' 6th and Idaho, Dylan Clark Productions, DC Entertainment, and Warner Bros. Television. Lauren LeFranc, known for her work on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., is attached as showrunner for the series.
Deadline reports that the spinoff series is described as a "Scarface-like" story about the rise of the Penguin in Gotham City's criminal underworld. The Penguin, also known as Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot, is a famous mob boss in Gotham and one of Batman's main foes. The character has appeared in live-action adaptations, previously being portrayed by Danny Devito in Tim Burton's Batman Returns film and by Robin Lord Taylor in the hit series Gotham. Since The Batman will be taking place during the Dark Knight's second year of fighting crime, Farrell's Penguin looks to bring new energy and freshness to the character, as his version of the character has not yet become a well-known crime kingpin.
Farrell wore a fat suit for the role, making him unrecognizable while playing the disfigured character. Farrell also confirmed in a recent podcast that he will only appear in a few scenes as the Penguin, as the story does have many villains for Batman to encounter, so giving the character his own series seems fitting.
This isn't the first series HBO MAX is developing based on either The Batman or other DC projects. A spinoff series was announced in July 2020 that would center on the Gotham City Police department and will be written by Reeves and Joe Barton. It would continue to expand on the universe presented in The Batman while exploring the corruption in Gotham. Reeves commented on the series, saying it would be a prequel to The Batman and will be set in the Caped Crusader's first year of fighting crime. Other upcoming shows include a Green Lantern series from Greg Berlanti and a Peacemaker spinoff series based on John Cena's character in the successful The Suicide Squad.
The Batman will take place in Bruce Wayne/Batman's early years of fighting crime, as he is forced to deal with corruption and tracking down a new enemy known as the Riddler. Other than Robert Pattinson's Batman and Farrell's Penguin, the cast also includes Paul Dano as Edward Nashton / Riddler, Zoë Kravitz as Selina Kyle / Catwoman, Jeffrey Wright as James Gordon, John Turturro as Carmine Falcone, and Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth.
The Batman is set to release on March 4, 2022.
Source: Deadline