Key Takeaways
- The Penguin could return for a Season 2, with Colin Farrell reprising his role in the upcoming The Batman Part II.
- Despite success, The Penguin should remain a limited series to avoid potential pitfalls and keep things fresh.
- The Reevesverse plans an expanded universe, possibly exploring other iconic villains like Mr. Freeze or a Harvey Dent legal drama.
It’s all going quiet in Gotham City once again, but as the credits roll on HBO’s The Penguin, it feels like things are only just getting started. Colin Farrell reprised his role as Oz Cobb from 2022’s The Batman, and as the first of a promised expanded universe of spin-off shows, The Penguin has continued the legacy of the Reevesverse in style.
Praised as a modern version of The Sopranos, The Penguin has broken through when even the Marvel Cinematic Universe is struggling with superhero saturation. With The Penguin destined to be remembered as one of HBO’s best shows in years, there’s been obvious talk about a potential season 2. But, should Cobb be left where he is, or will fans be tuning in for another run?
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The Penguin Could Return for Season 2
The Penguin has wrapped Oz’s story (for now), with the waddling mobster rising to the top of the criminal empire in Gotham City. Director Matt Reeves and Farrell have confirmed that Cobb will be back for the upcoming The Batman Part II, although it’s unclear whether he’ll be the big bad or have a minor role like in The Batman.
There’s no official word on Oz’s potential appearance beyond Reeves’ plans for The Batman Part III, but speaking to The Direct, The Penguin showrunner Lauren LeFranc has said she’s willing to helm another season of The Penguin on one condition. LeFranc said she’d love to keep playing in the sandbox of Gotham City and admitted:
“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.”
Considering The Penguin was always billed as a miniseries, its success could be key in bringing everyone back. This has already been teased in the MCU, and although the critically acclaimed WandaVision remains a limited series, there’s a buzz about Agatha All Along getting a season 2. The same goes for FX’s Shōgun, which was expanded from a miniseries to a three-season order.
More than just LeFranc grabbing headlines, Reeves has also sparked the idea of The Penguin season 2 when speaking to Interview Magazine. Although the director didn’t directly address the idea of another season for Cobb, he told the outlet:
“We have been talking about doing other shows. I wanted to make sure that we didn’t do the origin tale, which so many of the other series have done. I think the idea of being able to put a lens on these characters is a really exciting idea.”
Reeves reiterated that it’s about building out Gotham City and focusing on this ‘novelistic epic crime saga,’ while fans picked up on a line saying, “Oz’s story IS Oz’s story.” With Reeves avoiding the past tense, there’s a glimmer of hope that The Penguin season 2 could arrive in a post-The Batman Part II world. Then again, there’s always too much of a good thing.
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The Penguin Should Remain a Limited Series
Shows like Prison Break and Heroes were accused of dropping off after their stellar first seasons, and even though it’s hard to see The Penguin going down the same route, HBO did struggle with second seasons of Big Little Lies and True Detective (although the latter was an anthology). There’s also the success of Damon Lindelof’s Watchmen for the network, which despite cries for a second season, has remained a near-perfect limited series.
Before fans go cheering for The Penguin season 2, a major stumbling block could be Farrell himself. Speaking to Total Film (via GamesRadar), the show’s lead opened up about his discomfort at spending hours in the makeup chair:
“When I finished I was like, ‘I never want to put that fucking suit and that f**king head on again.’”
It doesn’t exactly sound like he’s rushing to get back into character, but similar to Daniel Craig’s infamous quote about preferring to slit his wrists than play James Bond again, Farrell could easily be lured back.
Farrell’s return for The Batman Part II is another problem because if The Penguin season 2 is confirmed, it would seemingly spoil Cobb’s survival. This was one of The Penguin’s few complaints thanks to his role in Part II cladding him in plot armor and taking away some of the danger. In terms of keeping everyone (and Batman) on their toes, it might be best to keep expanding this world with someone else’s story. After all, The Penguin’s Sofia Gigante (Cristin Milioti) episode being lauded as one of the best TV episodes of modern times shows it’s not just the Oz show.
Even if Farrell doesn’t want to return or the Penguin meets his maker in The Batman Part II, LeFranc could deliver another stellar outing in a different way. Despite the disappointment that the proposed GCPD and Arkham Asylum series were placed on hold, elements of the latter feel like they were folded into The Penguin. LeFranc spoke out about why famous inmates like Harley Quinn and Barry Keoghan’s Joker weren’t seen in the background of Sofia’s incarceration, although she suggested they might’ve been there.
If not resurrecting the Arkham Asylum series, Reeves’ hints of more shows could see LeFranc tackle one of the Caped Crusader’s most iconic foes. The Penguin season 1’s winter setting has already got people talking about Mr. Freeze, while Reeves has even given the nod to a potential Harvey Dent legal drama. The Penguin has continued the gritty groundwork put in place by The Batman, and it’s clear this is just the start of an expanded universe.
With critiques that Todd Phillips’ Joker movies failed to make good on their expansive playground of Easter eggs and potential villains, Warner Bros.’ vision for the Reevesverse could see multiple projects filling the gaps between movies. Reeves has previously referred to The Penguin as an entrée to the next movie, and with him charging ahead with a Batman trilogy for Robert Pattinson, audiences are sure to be hungry for another course after the credits roll on The Batman Part II. Whether dining at the Iceberg Lounge or having dinner with one of Gotham’s other complex villains, the studio would be wise to keep fans fed.
