The Batman spinoff show focused on Colin Farrell's version of the Penguin has its number of episodes disclosed by the leading man. Farrell looked unrecognizable as the villain during his time on 2022's The Batman. Like most other Batman universe characters introduced in the Matt Reeves movie, Farrell's Penguin was still an early version of the character, with the spinoff series focused on showing the villain's rise to power.
During an interview with Variety‘s Awards Circuit Podcast, Farrell revealed that the Penguin series will consist of eight episodes. The actor also spoke on the show's plot, saying it picks up one week after the events of The Batman. Farrell also said that if everyone does their job right, The Batman Part II will start from where the Penguin series ends. Check out the full quote below:
It's going to be an eight-part thing around Oz's rise to power, filling that power vacuum created when Falcone was killed.
How The Penguin Series Can Become Something Truly Special
Farrell's take on the iconic Batman villain, the Penguin, was one of the best parts of The Batman. The actor presented so much energy every time he was on the screen, and the excellent hair and makeup department of the film helped Farrell get completely lost in the role. The Batman showcased a rare event when a Hollywood leading man can simply transform into their character, with such chameleons of the profession famously including stars like Christian Bale and Daniel Day Lewis, who now have Farrell's company.
The Penguin spinoff series can continue the story of Farrell's Oswald Cobblepot brilliantly, by immersing the audience in Gotham's criminal underworld as the villain starts making his moves to fill the power vacuum left by the death of Carmine Falcone in The Batman. A gritty crime saga told through the eyes of the Penguin has the potential to be something truly special. The Batman universe architect Reeves' idea to have the story from the Penguin spinoff directly impact The Batman Part II is perfect. It is a natural progression from where The Batman let off, cementing how important Farrell's Penguin is to this universe.
Farrell has also talked in the past about a possible route the Penguin spinoff will take, which would differ it from The Batman. While Robert Pattinson's debut as Batman was marked by a gritty and grounded take on the character's comic book story, with an inherently dark tone to it, the Penguin series could go one step above the movie. There is a real chance the Penguin series gets an R rating, which would allow the show room to dive even deeper into Gotham's dark corners, which was a main point of the positive reviews from The Batman. The premium, mature, TV series format is perfect for the Penguin — and HBO Max TV shows can deliver on that — allowing Farrell to journey under the skin of the character, following his star turn in The Batman.
Source: Variety
