For those anxious for more details on the newest project in Matt Reeves’s Batman universe, The Penguin, take it easy, sweetheart. Fresh news has come from none other than the Penguin crime boss himself, Colin Farrell. In a sit-down interview with Variety on their Award Circuit podcast, the award-winning actor revealed that the DC spin-off is slated to have eight episodes in its initial season.
Farrell, who first astounded audiences with his unrecognizable portrayal of the popular villain in The Batman (2022), has gradually been revealing more and more details about The Penguin during the past few months, building the hype to the next suspenseful glimpse into the far grittier, darker world of Reeves’ Batman universe. He previously disclosed details about his read of the first episode of the series, remarking how “tasty and unusual” and very out there the story and writing were in his first impression. In addition, the series is said to have a Scarface-style vibe, which would only be fitting for a story like Oswald Cobblepot’s in The Penguin.
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In this particular interview with Variety, Farrell goes into the story outline for the show and how his character’s origins will be explored.
This confirmation of the episode count and its position in Reeves’ Batman timeline comes days after DC’s barrage of announcements about its upcoming projects, including those helmed by Reeves. The sequel to his first film of the Caped Crusader, which is currently titled The Batman Part II, is slated for a theatrical release on October 3, 2025. The Penguin currently has no release date but has since started filming in New York City, and by Farrell’s words, will debut most likely in 2024. It will stream exclusively on HBO Max.
“It’s going to be an eight-part thing around Oz’s rise to power, filling that power vacuum created when Falcone was killed. Matt’s idea was to have the Penguin show begin about a week after the end of the Batman film. And if it works, if the trajectory is interesting, and the audience goes for it, and we do our jobs right, the second Penguin feature will pick up where the HBO show will end.”
The Penguin is being directed by Mare of Easttown’s Craig Zobel and stars Colin Farrell in the lead role of mob boss Oswald Cobblepot and Cristin Milioti (Palm Springs) as Sophia Falcone, daughter to John Tuturro’s Carmine Falcone. No other cast has been confirmed in roles just yet, but we can speculate that Turturro’s Falcone may make appearances in a flashback or two, along with references at least to Selina Kyle, who was revealed to be Falcone’s ostracized daughter in the climax of the first film. Hopefully, more casting news will come soon, along with some promotional footage.
Matt Reeves’ New Home in Sub-Universe DC Elseworlds
With the avalanche of reworkings within the DCU, fans wondered where Matt Reeves and his acclaimed work would fall on the docket. James Gunn has since announced his own personal projects that will revolve around his own new versions of both Superman and Batman. One called Superman: Legacy is set for a 2025 release, while Gunn’s Batman will star in a new rendition of Batman and Robin.
As for where Matt Reeves will be able to settle in, Gunn has thoughtfully allocated all projects deemed non-canon to a sub-universe within DC called “DC Elseworlds.” So far, Reeves’ The Batman and its upcoming sequel, along with his spin-off The Penguin, are included, along with Todd Phillips’ Gotham-centric films The Joker and its upcoming musical sequel Joker: Folie à Deux. It remains to be seen what other projects will fall into this sub-universe of DC projects, but it likely would be anything not directed or specifically planned by Gunn. At the very least, directors like Reeves and Phillips retain their creative flexibility to continue to tell their versions of Gotham’s heroes and villains as they see fit.
