Comic-Con International (SDCC 2024) descended into darkness on Saturday afternoon…. Taking the next step in Matt Reeves’ Batman universe, The Penguin will arrive on HBO|Max this fall. Fans got to see the premiere of the offshoot series’ new trailer to kick of the panel, much to their delight.  Reeves himself started things off, noting how the penguin in The Batman movie was a red herring, but they’d always intended more for the character. Originally they’d wanted to feature him at the beginning of the next film. Then the series presented itself.

Now they had a real opportunity to showcase the  rise of the power of the Penguin. Instead of a single act in a feature film, “Oz” now gets an eight-episode series of his own. Farrell discussed his love of the character, noting that he grew up watching Burgess Meredith as the character. It was the lore of that world that held sch an attraction for him. “To be part of Gotham is an amazing opportunity for me,” said Farrell

The Penguin expands the new Batman universe

The Penguin
Image: Max

The series will feature new characters, but will not shy away from legacy characters from the Comics. Actress Cristin Miloti, for one, brings Sofia Falcone to the screen in superb fashion. “We’ve got complicated people, and if you ask them they’re all the hero of their own story,” said Miloti of The Penguin characters. But if you ask anyone on the panel, Farrell truly is the star of the show. “Colin’s charisma comes through all the character’s history,” and in turn the prosthetics he has to wear to bring the Penguin to live.

Fans won’t have to wait much longer for the series’ debut. The latest entry into Matt Reeves’ world of Batman starts streaming September 19th.

You can watch the show on Max.