Pennyworth: The Origin of Batman’s Butler (Now on HBO Max)
05-16-18, 11:24 AM
#1
DVD Talk God
Thread Starter
Pennyworth: The Origin of Batman’s Butler (Now on HBO Max)
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/li...t-epix-1112339
10 episode Alfred the Butler prequel series. It’s been greenlit to series.
No this is not a Joke.
The MGM-owned premium cable network has handed out a 10-episode, straight-to-series order for Pennyworth, a drama set in the Batman universe from Gotham showrunner Bruno Heller.
The series will revolve around Alfred Pennyworth, the best friend and butler to Bruce Wayne (aka Batman). The series is not a Gotham spinoff but rather an entirely new story exploring Alfred's origins as a former British SAS soldier who forms a secret company and goes to work with Thomas Wayne — Bruce's billionaire father — in 1960s London. Sean Pertwee, who plays Alfred Pennyworth on Fox's recently renewed Gotham, is not involved. Casting has not yet begun and the series is set in a completely different universe despite hailing from Heller and producers Warner Horizon. (Others who have played the Alfred role include Jeremy Irons, Michael Gough, Michael Caine, Alan Napier and William Austin, among others.)
Pennyworth is based on DC characters created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger. Heller will pen the script and executive produce. The drama marks a reunion for Heller with Gotham's Danny Cannon, who will exec produce and direct the pilot as he did with the Fox Batman origin story.
10 episode Alfred the Butler prequel series. It’s been greenlit to series.
No this is not a Joke.
The MGM-owned premium cable network has handed out a 10-episode, straight-to-series order for Pennyworth, a drama set in the Batman universe from Gotham showrunner Bruno Heller.
The series will revolve around Alfred Pennyworth, the best friend and butler to Bruce Wayne (aka Batman). The series is not a Gotham spinoff but rather an entirely new story exploring Alfred's origins as a former British SAS soldier who forms a secret company and goes to work with Thomas Wayne — Bruce's billionaire father — in 1960s London. Sean Pertwee, who plays Alfred Pennyworth on Fox's recently renewed Gotham, is not involved. Casting has not yet begun and the series is set in a completely different universe despite hailing from Heller and producers Warner Horizon. (Others who have played the Alfred role include Jeremy Irons, Michael Gough, Michael Caine, Alan Napier and William Austin, among others.)
Pennyworth is based on DC characters created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger. Heller will pen the script and executive produce. The drama marks a reunion for Heller with Gotham's Danny Cannon, who will exec produce and direct the pilot as he did with the Fox Batman origin story.
Last edited by Goldberg74; 10-06-22 at 04:11 PM.
05-16-18, 11:38 AM
#2
re: Pennyworth (Moving to HBO Max in 2022)
Fuck off with this. 
05-16-18, 11:39 AM
#3
DVD Talk Hero
re: Pennyworth (Moving to HBO Max in 2022)
I guess if we can get a show about Superman's grandfather, they'll scrape the barrel on anything.
05-16-18, 11:41 AM
#4
DVD Talk Legend
re: Pennyworth (Moving to HBO Max in 2022)
What a bizarre choice to make a series out of. I mean you might be able to make it interesting enough but I don’t think it’s anything that needs to be tied into the Wayne/Batman lore. This seems like something that would work better in the comics or maybe a flashback type episode of Gotham or something rather than a full series. At least something like Krypton ties more directly to Superman even if it’s set before his birth.
05-16-18, 12:28 PM
#5
DVD Talk Hero
re: Pennyworth (Moving to HBO Max in 2022)
What a bizarre choice to make a series out of. I mean you might be able to make it interesting enough but I don’t think it’s anything that needs to be tied into the Wayne/Batman lore. This seems like something that would work better in the comics or maybe a flashback type episode of Gotham or something rather than a full series. At least something like Krypton ties more directly to Superman even if it’s set before his birth.
05-16-18, 12:50 PM
#7
DVD Talk Legend
re: Pennyworth (Moving to HBO Max in 2022)
I think there might have been something with that but I’m not positive. I didn’t read Snyder’s full New 52 run. I read whatever is collected in the first two trades but didn’t go beyond those.
05-16-18, 12:55 PM
#8
DVD Talk God
Thread Starter
re: Pennyworth (Moving to HBO Max in 2022)
and this will be airing on a channel that pretty much no one, including myself, at DVD Talk has. No I guess no one will be watching
05-16-18, 01:13 PM
#9
DVD Talk Hero
re: Pennyworth (Moving to HBO Max in 2022)
I'm guessing that Epix is paying almost nothing for licensing Batman's butler. They wanted a British spy show for international appeal and went looking for a property with brand recognition.
05-16-18, 01:20 PM
#10
DVD Talk God
Thread Starter
re: Pennyworth (Moving to HBO Max in 2022)
That's really what's this is going to be. A British spy series with Alfred Pennyworth and Thomas Wayne.
WB is probably also hoping this show will get some UK and International networks to pick it up with the very loose DC tie-in.
WB is probably also hoping this show will get some UK and International networks to pick it up with the very loose DC tie-in.
05-16-18, 01:28 PM
#11
DVD Talk Legend
re: Pennyworth (Moving to HBO Max in 2022)
I think there’s potential for a decent show with the basic premise of it being a show about a British spy but it just seems weird to base it on the Alfred character. I mean I wouldn’t think he’s a marketable character on his own and Thomas Wayne is basically an unknown character to non comic readers.
05-16-18, 03:11 PM
#12
DVD Talk Hero
re: Pennyworth (Moving to HBO Max in 2022)
I realize the brand recognition Alfred has, but if they were going to do a British espionage just give Greg Rucka some well deserved money and adapt Queen and Country.
05-16-18, 04:10 PM
#13
DVD Talk Legend
re: Pennyworth (Moving to HBO Max in 2022)
The teenaged, future Mrs. Jonathan Kent enrolls in a Smallville Finishing School and enters a hitherto unheralded world of gender-role dysplasia in Martha Clark.
The following users liked this post:
PhantomStranger (06-26-20)
05-16-18, 04:19 PM
#14
DVD Talk Hero
re: Pennyworth (Moving to HBO Max in 2022)
You just reminded me that they actually put a (terrible) show on the air with Bruce Wayne's cousin as the boss. They really are milking this cow. It did have a cool opening, though.
05-16-18, 04:38 PM
#16
DVD Talk Limited Edition
re: Pennyworth (Moving to HBO Max in 2022)
Wasn't there going to a Spider-man spinoff movie at one point about the life of young Aunt May as a spy or something?
05-17-18, 03:10 PM
#17
DVD Talk Hero
re: Pennyworth (Moving to HBO Max in 2022)
That may still be on the table considering Sony is going crazy on expanding their Spider-Man movies without Spider-Man actually in them. There is something like a slate of six Spideyverse movies Sony wants.
05-17-18, 06:50 PM
#19
re: Pennyworth (Moving to HBO Max in 2022)
05-17-18, 06:54 PM
#20
DVD Talk Godfather
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Gateway Cities/Harbor Region
Posts: 63,269
Received 1,793 Likes
on
1,121 Posts
re: Pennyworth (Moving to HBO Max in 2022)
Gotta be honest. Gotham's version of Alfred has been one of my fave characters and versions of the character. So while I'm not sure this ia good idea, i'm in.
05-17-18, 06:59 PM
#21
re: Pennyworth (Moving to HBO Max in 2022)
05-17-18, 07:04 PM
#22
DVD Talk Legend
re: Pennyworth (Moving to HBO Max in 2022)
I have Directv so no chance to watch it
05-22-18, 01:29 PM
#25
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
