While there have been plenty of new reports and production updates regarding The Batman Part II, there hasn’t been as much said about its spin-off television series The Penguin. Following the release and positive reception of The Batman in 2022, a spin-off series starring Colin Farrell’s Oswald Cobblepot, also known as the Penguin, was quickly put into development. Consisting of eight episodes, the project was first touted as a limited series meant to help set up the events of The Batman Part II. Despite the implication that it was a limited series, the project would receive critical acclaim and plenty of awards, seemingly prompting HBO and the creative team behind the series to consider continuing the story of Oz’s rise to power in Gotham’s underworld. There has been lots of speculation from both trade reports and comments from the stars and showrunners themselves about a second season of The Penguin. A new update revealed that, on the Writers Guild of America website, more information has been teased about a second season. Specifically, the WGA posting indicates that Lauren LeFranc will return as showrunner, and that Semi Chellas, who is known for her work on Mad Men, is listed to serve as a consulting producer on the show’s second season.

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What makes this particularly interesting is that only a writer or a production member in the WGA can edit and approve listings on the website. This makes the new update a much stronger indication that a second season of The Penguin is in active development, as compared to how unverified sources can update a site like IMDb. There was a lot of doubt cast about the possibility of continuing to tell Oz’s story in another season, especially considering The Batman Part II is just starting production, with Farrell’s involvement in that movie as Oz possibly putting a hold on another season of Penguin. Colin Farrell recently made comments about more episodes, telling Deadline that he would “bet against” the idea of another season going into production. Part of the actor’s reasoning was that the first season had worked so well primarily because of how Reeves’ first Batman film ended, creating a power vacuum that became the central conflict of The Penguin. Moreover, The Batman Part II has already been reported as taking place almost immediately after the ending of The Penguin, leaving very little wiggle room story-wise for the HBO limited series.

Hypothetically, The Penguin Season 2 could move forward after production on the Batman sequel has finished, and LeFranc and other key creative members of production understand where Oz’s character is before and after the events of the film. Still, the WGA site having the production listed is one of the most positive updates that the series could get.

Release Date

2024 – 2024-00-00

Showrunner

Lauren LeFranc

Writers

Lauren LeFranc

Franchise(s)

Batman, DC Elseworlds