The Penguin, HBO Max’s anticipated spinoff of The Batman, becomes the latest casualty during the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike as production of the Colin Farrell-led series was halted.
Per Deadline, The Penguin suspended production on May 16 as they were set to film in Westchester, New York. WGA East picketers appeared on The Penguin set early while local guilds and teamsters refused to cross the picket line in solidarity. Some writers later took to social media to make DC-related quips about the production shutdown.
The Penguin joins other high-profile small-screen efforts like Daredevil: Born Again and The Mandalorian, who have seen their production efforts directly affected by the WGA strike. The WGA began their protests on May 2 after contract negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers broke down the day prior. The writers’ group has argued for better wages in Hollywood and promises to prevent AI from taking their jobs.
The Penguin Is a Spinoff Sequel to The Batman
Max released a teaser trailer of The Penguin in April, offering an inside look at the series, which sees Farrell reprise his eponymous role as Oswald “Oz” Cobblepot from The Batman. The Penguin, set directly after the events in The Batman, chronicles Oswald’s descent into the Gotham City underworld as he tries to claim the territory of mob boss Carmine Falcone after previously being his chief lieutenant, gradually becoming a full-fledged crime lord in the process. Filming for The Penguin began in March and is expected to conclude this July.
Farrell returns as the disfigured aspiring kingpin alongside Cristin Milioti, who plays Carmine’s daughter Sofia Falcone, and Clancy Brown as Salvatore Mirone. Additionally, Michael Zegen appears as Alberto Falcone, Carmine’s son and Sofia’s daughter. Whether Batman will appear in The Penguin remains to be seen as Robert Pattinson could feature in the spinoff, but potentially as a character other than Gotham City’s chief protector. The Penguin is one of several upcoming Max series within DC Universe, featuring alongside several other new projects that headline DC’s new TV slate under James Gunn, including Creature Commandos, Waller and more.
The Penguin was created by Lauren LeFranc, with Season 1 of the series featuring eight episodes, the first three of which are directed by Craig Zobel. Reportedly, how well The Penguin performs for Max and Warner Bros. will determine how important Farrell’s role will be in The Batman 2, which is scheduled for an Oct. 3, 2025, theatrical premiere.
The Penguin is expected to premiere via Max in 2024.
Source: Deadline
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