After awhirlwind ride through the peaks and troughs of the hunt for criminal supremacy in Gotham,The Penguinmight have taken his final bow. From the highs of episode 4, “Cent’Anni,” to the lows of… well, there are simply no lows,The Penguinhas been a bursting ray of energy into a franchise long in need of one.
Centered on the battle between Oz Cobb (Colin Farrell) and Sofia (Cristin Milioti) in a spinoff ofMatt Reeves’The Batman,The Penguinhas danced and devastated on its way to the season finale.One of the highest-rated shows of the year,The Penguinis destined to become an awards darling in 2025, but will that be the end? The future of the show is currently up in the air, but here’s what we know about a potential return.
‘The Penguin’ Finally Revealed Its Biggest Connection to ‘The Batman’
It’s about time that signal turned on.
What Happened in ‘The Penguin’ Season 1?
After a hellish journey on the road to criminal superiority,only one of Sofia and Oz can reign over Gotham’s criminal underworld, and they’re both willing to risk it all. In an explosive final episode,filled with blood, tears, and murder as Sofia and Oz come face to face one final time.We also explored Oz’s childhood even further, including his relationship with his mother, who becamea pivotal role in the fight between him and Sofia. Withthe events of this final episode set to directly lead into the hotly-anticipated sequelThe Batman: Part II,with Reeves' second installment likely to be introduced in the next episode.
It seems as if the entire world is excited aboutThe Batman: Part II… almost.Farrell’s complex evolution into Oz Cobb forThe Penguincomes with its own unique challenges, the sort that can tire anyone and leave many desperate for a break. When asked in aninterview with Collider’s Steve Weintraubabout what he knows about the upcoming sequel after conversations with the original film’s producer,Dylan Clark, Farrell understandably said:
“No, no, but I’d say Dylan will probably let me know very soon. I could call up Dylan today and ask him, I suppose, what we’re looking at, when we’re going to start shooting and all that thing, but I’ve kind of had enough of it all for now. I need to step away and just be at home and chill and watch movies and go on hikes.”
Colin Farrell Fought Against That Heart-Wrenching Scene in ‘The Penguin’ Finale [Exclusive]
Oz went too far.
Is ‘The Penguin’ Getting a Season 2?
After the painful events ofThe Penguin’s Finale, we still have tons of questions that can potentially lead into another season of the show. While, as of now, there’s shockingly still no official confirmation of a second season, the team behindThe Penguinseems to be willing to return to Gotham if the right story comes along.
ShowrunnerLauren LeFrancspoke to The Directand revealed that she’d be interested in returning for another season:
“I mean, we put it all out on the table. I think that in order to do a second season, we have to feel like we can top ourselves. We have to feel like there’s something more there to really dig into. I mean, I really care about all these characters, even if they’re terrible people… I’d love to keep playing… it just has to be the right thing.””
In an interview with THR, Colin Farrell said:
If there’s a great idea [for Season 2], and the writing was really muscular and as strong or stronger on the page than it was the first season, of course I would do it.
In November, Farrell added to his previous statement bydiscussing his character’s futurein Reeves' burgeoningBatmanuniverse in a discussion with Collider. Farrell said:
“If I’m in the second film and the third film, I’m really happy with that. I would hate to go back in and, in some kind of way, undo the goodwill that this limited season has created with people. I don’t feel any burning desire to unearth this aspect of Oz and that aspect of Oz. If they came up with a pitch for eight hours that could work bilateral with Matt’s world…I certainly wouldn’t run towards it, but I’d walk towards it and have a good look. I’d be open to it,”
The most recent update about the future ofThe Penguin, and once again a promising one, came from theshow’s executive producer,Dylan Clarke, who said regarding Season 2, “There have been quiet conversations about that,” before adding, “If we could come up with ideas for what a second season might be, there’s a chance that [HBO CEO] Casey Bloys and the HBO team would want to pursue that.”
What’s Next for The Penguin?
Now that Season 1 is over, we will return to Gotham City inThe Batman Part II. DirectorMatt Reevesposted a message on his socials:
The Batman Part II,sadly, has faced even more delays recently, with itsonce-slated 2025 release now pushed back all the way to 2027.This is to give the chance for Reeves and co to perfect a script that is,according to the man himself, almost finished, but it also does leave the door open for HBO to take as much time as they like when deciding on the future ofThe Penguin, with a second season likely to not air until after the release of theBatmansequel.
Where Can I Stream ‘The Penguin’?
What is included?
$9.99 per month
$15.99 per month
Ultimate Ad-Free
$19.99 per mont
All eight episodes ofThe Penguinare now available to stream on Max.
Watch on Max
The Penguin
It follows the transformation of Oswald Cobblepot from a disfigured nobody to a noted Gotham gangster.
