HBO’s The Penguin, the much-anticipated spinoff from The Batman, is just hours away from its premiere. Here’s everything you need to know, including the exact air time and more details before the series kicks off.
Back in 1966, the iconic character was portrayed by a top-hatted Burgess Meredith, while in 1992, we saw a sewer-dwelling, pale-faced Danny DeVito. Now, it’s Colin Farrell’s turn to redefine The Penguin’s legacy in Gotham.
First introduced in The Batman (2022), this version of the legendary villain—who has undergone a notable name transformation—isn’t quite the kingpin yet. The Penguin will navigate his ascent to power amidst the chaos following the Riddler’s actions, maneuvering through Gotham’s power dynamics as the ultimate underdog.
After much anticipation (especially with the long wait for The Batman 2), if you’re eager to watch, make sure you know when to tune in.
The Penguin Release Time
The Penguin premieres on HBO on Thursday, September 19, at 9 PM ET/6 PM PT. It will also be available for streaming on Max.
If you’re outside the US, we’ve got you covered with the premiere times in different time zones (stay up late if you must!):
- Canada (Crave): 9 PM
- Brazil: 10 PM
- Portugal and Western Europe: 2 AM (Friday, September 20)
- UK (Sky Atlantic): 2 AM (Friday, September 20)
- Spain and Central Europe: 3 AM (Friday, September 20)
- Bulgaria and Eastern Europe: 4 AM (Friday, September 20)
- India: 6:30 AM (Friday, September 20)
- Australia (Binge): 11 AM (Friday, September 20)
- New Zealand (Sky SoHo): 1 PM (Friday, September 20)
This premiere features a single episode launch, with the remainder of the season releasing weekly thereafter.
How Many Episodes Are There?
There are a total of eight episodes in The Penguin.
Interesting enough, The Penguin wasn’t originally intended to be its own standalone series. According to producer Dylan Clark, the spinoff was initially conceived as the opening act for The Batman 2. However, Farrell’s incredible performance warranted a deeper exploration.
He explained to Collider: “One of the first drafts of The Batman was long… it was bursting at the seams… and in a meeting with Casey [Bloys] and Sarah [Aubrey], he said, ‘You know, we could do this.’
“The Penguin was just the obvious character to develop. Colin [Farrell] was outstanding in our movie, and when we tested it, he consistently rated at the top alongside Rob [Pattinson].
“It was like, ‘God, it’s Colin Farrell and he’s such an amazing actor. Wouldn’t it be fun to create a gangster show around him?’”
The Penguin Release Schedule
Notably, Episode 1 of The Penguin will be the only episode aired on a Thursday. All subsequent episodes will drop on Sundays, following HBO’s release strategy for shows like House of the Dragon.
- Episode 1: Thursday, September 19
- Episode 2: Sunday, September 29
- Episode 3: Sunday, October 6
- Episode 4: Sunday, October 13
- Episode 5: Sunday, October 20
- Episode 6: Sunday, October 27
- Episode 7: Sunday, November 3
- Episode 8 (Finale): Sunday, November 8
The Batman is also available to stream on Max, so if you want to pass the time while waiting for the next episode, you know what to do!
What’s It About?
The Penguin will follow Colin Farrell’s character as he ascends to power in a damp, divided Gotham, where he faces competition from Sofia Falcone (Cristin Milioti), who aims to reclaim her late father’s empire following her time in Arkham Asylum.
Don’t expect to see the caped crusader in this series. It’s primarily focused on the Penguin’s backstory and will set the stage for The Batman 2.
“We’re exploring Oz’s world, living in the city’s underbelly,” LeFranc told Entertainment Weekly.
“Oz is a key player. You can’t always trust him; he’s clever, methodical, and also highly impulsive. His actions are unpredictable.”
“We serve as the bridge between the two films, leading directly into the sequel Matt has envisioned.”
The Penguin Cast
Colin Farrell stars in The Penguin as the aspiring mob boss, also known as Oz Cobb. Cristin Milioti, famed for her role as the Mother in How I Met Your Mother, portrays Sofia Falcone.
The ensemble cast includes:
- Rhenzy Feliz as Victor Aguilar
- Michael Kelly as Johnny Viti
- By Nadia Maroni
- Deirdre O’Connell as Francis Cobb
- Clancy Brown as Salvatore Maroni
- James Madio as Milos Grapa
- Scott Cohen as Luca Falcone
- Michael Zegen as Alberto Falcone
- Carmen Ejogo as Eve Karlo
- Theo Rossi as Dr. Julian Rush
- Mark Strong as Carmine Falcone
Farrell shared with MovieZine (via AV Club) that he had a “wonderful experience” reprising this role and hinted that the series would be darker than anticipated.
“It’s incredibly dark and intense,” he mentioned. “But it was a rewarding experience. It’s a story of one man’s rise towards the power and social status he has always desired.”
The Penguin Trailer
Before the premiere, don’t forget to watch the trailer for The Penguin:
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