Photo Credit: HBO Max
The Penguin will not return for a second season on HBO. It’s a decision that is sure to divide the Batman fandom, but it may also hint at some exciting developments regarding the forthcoming DC Universe iteration of the Caped Crusader.
On Friday, June 12, notable insider Jeff Sneider wrote on X: “I’m told that DC/HBO will not move forward with a second season of THE PENGUIN, which will remain a limited series.” The update comes roughly a year and a half after the series, part of Matt Reeves’ The Batman Epic Crime Saga, aired on HBO.
The Penguin was the most prestigious series to debut from DC in years. It received a near-perfect 95% Rotten Tomatoes score, strong viewership throughout its eight-week run, and multiple accolades, including an Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie win for Cristin Milioti.
Although billed as a limited series, The Penguin’s massive success led to there being discussions about a follow-up season for Colin Farrell’s Gotham-based crime boss. It’s not every day that DC makes a show that wins over critics and the fandom, so all signs pointed to a second season eventually happening, possibly after The Batman Part II.
What The Penguin season 2 decision could mean for DCU Batman and the Reevesverse
The Penguin Season 2 no longer happening is arguably the best update fans waiting for the Batman to appear in James Gunn’s DC Universe have gotten in years. The only reason you kill an awards darling like The Penguin is if it’s impacting a similar project, in this case, the DCU Batman movie, The Brave and the Bold.
The Batman Part II begins filming this month ahead of an October 2027 release. Farrell’s The Penguin will be in that sequel. If The Penguin Season 2 was greenlit, a writers’ room would have to assemble, filming and post-production would have to take place, and then there would be marketing and promotion, all of which would likely see the show returning on HBO no sooner than 2028.
In keeping The Batman Epic Crime Saga alive until 2028, Batman’s DCU debut gets pushed back yet again, something which most fans, myself included, don’t want to see happen.
By letting The Penguin remain a limited series, DC trims The Batman Epic Crime Saga (or Reevesverse) down to a single project: The Batman Part II. While a third The Batman movie from Reeves could very well still happen, it’s now possible for this saga to be completed by 2027.
As Adam West’s Batman would have surely said, “When one batdoor closes, another one opens.” So, while The Penguin Season 2 not moving ahead is a bummer, Batman fans should actually be excited since it probably means that the DCU iteration is now one step closer to making his live-action debut.
