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Pennyworth: The Origin of Batman’s Butler (Now on HBO Max)

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Pennyworth: The Origin of Batman’s Butler (Now on HBO Max)

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Old 05-16-18, 11:24 AM
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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.

Last edited by Goldberg74; 10-06-22 at 04:11 PM.
Old 05-16-18, 11:38 AM
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re: Pennyworth (Moving to HBO Max in 2022)

Fuck off with this.
Old 05-16-18, 11:39 AM
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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.
Old 05-16-18, 11:41 AM
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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.
Old 05-16-18, 12:28 PM
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re: Pennyworth (Moving to HBO Max in 2022)

Originally Posted by Mike86
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.
Wasn't there a side story connecting Alfred or his dad to the court of owls and all that? They could make a connection if they really wanted to, but yeah without the sci fi trappings of Krypton and its Zeta beams a more direct connection would be difficult.
Old 05-16-18, 12:48 PM
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re: Pennyworth (Moving to HBO Max in 2022)

Epix fail? What's next for DC... a show about young Jimmy Olsen getting his first camera?
Old 05-16-18, 12:50 PM
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re: Pennyworth (Moving to HBO Max in 2022)

Originally Posted by fujishig
Wasn't there a side story connecting Alfred or his dad to the court of owls and all that? They could make a connection if they really wanted to, but yeah without the sci fi trappings of Krypton and its Zeta beams a more direct connection would be difficult.
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.
Old 05-16-18, 12:55 PM
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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
Old 05-16-18, 01:13 PM
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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.
Old 05-16-18, 01:20 PM
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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.
Old 05-16-18, 01:28 PM
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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.
Old 05-16-18, 03:11 PM
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re: Pennyworth (Moving to HBO Max in 2022)

Originally Posted by PhantomStranger
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.
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.
Old 05-16-18, 04:10 PM
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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.
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Old 05-16-18, 04:19 PM
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re: Pennyworth (Moving to HBO Max in 2022)

Originally Posted by Hokeyboy
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.
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.
Old 05-16-18, 04:27 PM
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re: Pennyworth (Moving to HBO Max in 2022)

Could be interesting if their foil is Fish Mooney's mother, Juney Mooney.
Old 05-16-18, 04:38 PM
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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?
Old 05-17-18, 03:10 PM
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re: Pennyworth (Moving to HBO Max in 2022)

Originally Posted by windom
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?
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.
Old 05-17-18, 03:20 PM
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re: Pennyworth (Moving to HBO Max in 2022)

Might check it out depending on the casting and how it looks, but I'm not sure what the point of this is.
Old 05-17-18, 06:50 PM
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re: Pennyworth (Moving to HBO Max in 2022)

Originally Posted by windom
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?
That would be lame because Peter's parents where the ones in the CIA and they left Peter with Ben and May. Well, at least in the comics they did.
Old 05-17-18, 06:54 PM
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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.
Old 05-17-18, 06:59 PM
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re: Pennyworth (Moving to HBO Max in 2022)

Originally Posted by DJariya
No this is not a Joke.
No, it's a joke alright...


I don't get why they won't just allow a Batman TV show rather than going to such desperate measures to beat around the bush that they're now doing a prequel to a prequel featuring the butler as the MC.
Old 05-17-18, 07:04 PM
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re: Pennyworth (Moving to HBO Max in 2022)

I have Directv so no chance to watch it
Old 05-17-18, 08:19 PM
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re: Pennyworth (Moving to HBO Max in 2022)

Yet here we are at 6 seasons of Agents of S.H.I.E.S.S.E...
Old 05-17-18, 09:21 PM
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re: Pennyworth (Moving to HBO Max in 2022)

Who asked for this?



Just do the Kents already...
Old 05-22-18, 01:29 PM
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re: Pennyworth (Moving to HBO Max in 2022)

Originally Posted by DJariya
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
Deadline notes that Epix will be coming to Xfinity so there is a chance I will check this out.


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