For all the fans hoping HBO’s The Penguin would quickly return with a second season, showrunner Lauren LeFranc just dropped some tough news. While the first season earned 24 Emmy nominations and plenty of buzz, its future remains up in the air. And even if the show does get picked up, Gotham City won’t be returning until after Robert Pattinson’s next film, The Batman: Part II, hits theaters in 2027.
“I don’t know. There’s no current status update,” LeFranc admitted when asked about Season 2. “I think Matt just turned in his script (for The Batman Part II), so I’m excited to read that soon and see what comes of that — if there is anything there that merits a second season [of The Penguin] or not. I think we’ve said this before, but I truly mean it: We have to feel confident we can top ourselves, and that’s something that’s really important to Colin Farrell and me, especially; otherwise, we don’t want to do something again if it’s not going to be excellent. We were always meant to be a limited series. So, pivoting to a second season is just different — it’s not something we ever really talked about.”
What Was ‘The Penguin’ About?
The series told the rise of Oswald “Oz” Cobblepot, with Colin Farrell disappearing into the role. It also introduced new sides of Gotham’s criminal underworld through characters like Sofia Falcone (Cristin Milioti) and Victor (Rhenzy Feliz). By the finale, Oz had brutally solidified his hold on the city, setting him up for Reeves’ sequel film.
LeFranc says that was always the plan. “The intention of our first season always was, we’re launching Oz into the second film, and so we couldn’t air a second season until after Matt’s movie comes out.”
That means fans waiting to see what’s next for Penguin, Sofia, and Gotham’s gang war will need patience. The timeline is long, but it also underscores how carefully Warner Bros. and DC are connecting their stories. For now, The Penguin remains a critically acclaimed limited series — and whether it gets to break those limits is a question only time, and The Batman: Part II, will answer.
For the time being, fans can catch both The Penguin and The Batman on HBO Max, while we have the neverending wait for more action from Gotham City to emerge from the shadows.
via Collider