The Penguin Series Premieres on HBO September 19

The upcoming spin-off series, The Penguin, aims to expand Matt Reeves' Batman universe while introducing complex female characters. Showrunner Lauren LeFranc highlighted her intention to evolve the crime genre, stating that traditional narratives often underrepresent women, and she seeks to create a rich tapestry of characters around the titular villain, Oswald Cobblepot, played by Colin Farrell. The series will follow Cobblepot as he navigates Gotham's criminal underworld following Carmine Falcone's death, facing off against powerful adversaries including Sofia Falcone, portrayed by Cristin Milioti. LeFranc emphasizes the uniqueness of her perspective on masculinity, which informs the show's character dynamics. The eight-episode series is set to premiere on September 19 and has been described as a Scarface-like rise-to-power story. The anticipation for The Penguin is heightened by the success of The Batman and Farrell's acclaimed performance as the Penguin.