One of the most talked-about shows coming in 2024 is HBO's The Penguin. It promises to pick up where Matt Reeves' 2022 The Batman left off and give us an even closer look into Gotham City's crime scene, specifically the story of Oswald "Oz" Cobblepot, aka the Penguin. It aims to leave the usual superhero clichés out and connect more with the character's development.
The new series has eight episodes. As stated by Matt Reeves, the show is about the villains of Gotham and allows them to grow beyond what we saw in The Batman. Reeves says that Colin Farrell brings something new and strong to the Penguin, making him perfect for a deeper character exploration.
So let's look into what people can expect from The Penguin, including its release date, storyline, and cast.
The Penguin release schedule: Full list of episodes and watch order
With the new episodes of HBO's The Penguin dropping every week, you will have something to look out for, week in and week out. It begins on September 19, 2024, and the first three episodes are directed by Craig Zobel.
The episode release dates are as follows:
The plot of The Penguin
It's a week after the chaos that hit Gotham in The Batman, and this time, Penguin extends the villainous mayhem with a flood unleashed by The Riddler. Colin Farrell reprises the role of Oswald "Oz" Cobblepot. He is a mid-level mobster with ambitions to seize more power.
Farrell has described Oz as more than a common villain. He's a complicated character, both "awkward and villainous," trying to make his way to the top of the pile. Creator Lauren LeFranc described Oz as "problematic and unsavory," while promising a series that delves into themes of power, manipulation, and survival.
To be in command, Oz has to handle Gotham's crime families, particularly the Falcones and the Maronis. LeFranc also mentioned how the show's longer format allows them to explore the character Oz, giving the audience the depth that has long been missing in big movies.
The cast of The Penguin and the characters they play
The HBO show sports a blend of marquee talent and fresh faces that's as good as it gets, rounding out Farrell's lead role in this series.
- Colin Farrell as Oswald "Oz" Cobblepot / The Penguin: The lead character, a crime lord in Gotham City.
- Cristin Milioti as Sofia Falcone: The vengeful daughter of Carmine Falcone, who becomes one of Oz's major threats. Her character evolves from a reluctant ally to a fierce competitor for control of Gotham's criminal empire
- Rhenzy Feliz as Victor Aguilar: Oz's young driver and confidant, representing the next generation of Gotham's criminals eager to prove themselves.
- Shohreh Aghdashloo as Nadia Maroni: A significant player in Gotham's underworld.
- Michael Kelly as Johnny Vitti: The underboss of the Falcone family.
- Clancy Brown as Salvatore Maroni: Introduced as a character who sets up further conflicts between rival factions in Gotham.
- Mark Strong: Appears in flashbacks as Carmine Falcone.
- Michael Zegen as Alberto Falcone: Sofia's brother, involved in the power struggle.
- James Madio, David H. Holmes, Theo Rossi, Craig Walker, François Chau, Carmen Ejogo, and Jared Abrahamson: All have roles in the series, though their character details remain unconfirmed.
What can you expect from HBO's The Penguin?
Reeves has described the show as “more than a mere brand extension,” drawing inspiration from classic crime dramas like The Sopranos. This is a departure from the usual Bat-fodder seen in Gotham.
According to executive producer Dylan Clark, HBO has given them the freedom to make it a darker, R-rated series full of graphic violence, real talk, and complicated characters. NPR called it “one of 2024’s best shows.” Clark appreciates its dark humor and storyline.
This is heavy in getting into the marrow of the characters, making it another take on Gotham's bad guys. It takes the grime of a crime drama and gives it that flavor associated with Batman. Colin Farrell mentioned that while Oz is a villain, there's a heartbroken guy underneath it, hinting at serious emotional moments to come.
The Penguin comes to HBO on September 19, 2024.
