HBO Max is developing a series about The Penguin that will be a spinoff of “The Batman” feature, Variety has learned from sources.

Colin Farrell is set to play the notorious supervillain in “The Batman.” According to sources, Farrell has been approached to star in the spinoff series but no deal is currently in place. Sources also say that Lauren LeFranc is attached to write the script for the project, which is in its very early stages.

The show would supposedly delve into The Penguin’s rise to power in the Gotham criminal underworld. “The Batman” director Matt Reeves and the film’s producer Dylan Clark would executive produce the Penguin series under their 6th & Idaho and Dylan Clark Productions banners respectively. Warner Bros. Television would produce.

Reps for HBO Max declined to comment.

The Penguin, a.k.a. Oswald Cobblepot, is one of the most famous members of the Batman Rogues Gallery. On the live-action side, the character has previously been played by actors like Burgess Meredith, Danny DeVito, and Robin Lord Taylor.

Farrell has previously starred in television shows like “The North Water” and True Detective” Season 2. He is best known for his roles in films like “In Bruges,” “SWAT,” “The Lobster,” and “Seven Psychopaths.” He is repped by CAA, Ilene Feldman Management, Hansen Jacobson, and Kovert Creative.

LeFranc most recently served as showrunner on the YouTube Premium original series “Impulse.” Her other TV credits include “Agents of SHIELD,” “Chuck,” and “Hemlock Grove.” She is repped by CAA, Grandview, and Hansen Jacobson.

“The Batman” is due to hit theaters in March 2022 after being delayed multiple times due to the pandemic. Robert Pattinson is taking up the mantle of the Dark Knight, with Zoe Kravitz, Paul Dano, Jeffrey Wright, and Andy Serkis also among the film’s cast.

Should the Penguin show go forward, it would be the second spinoff series from “The Batman” at HBO Max. The streamer has already ordered a drama set within the Gotham Police Department, with Joe Barton attached as the showrunner. It is part of WarnerMedia’s attempt to launch a new interconnected Batman universe across all of its platforms.

There are several other DC shows in the works at HBO Max, including the “Suicide Squad” spinoff “Peacemaker” starring John Cena, a “Green Lantern” series from Greg Berlanti, and a “Justice League Dark” series from J.J. Abrams among others.

- December 6, 2021 04:57 pm ESTThe world of Matt Reeves' The Batman is officially expanding. On Monday, Varietyconfirmed that Colin Farrell is officially on board to star in and executive produce an HBO Max spinoff of the film, which is expected to revolve around his portrayal of Oswald Cobblepot / The Penguin. The series was first announced to be in early development earlier this year, but it was unclear at the time if Farrell would be involved. The series would follow Penguin's rise to power in Gotham's criminal underworld, with Agents of SHIELD and Impulse alum Lauren LeFranc attached to write the script. Matt Reeves, who is directing and co-writing The Batman, would executive produce, alongside the film's producer, Dylan Clark.

This Penguin-centric series would mark the second time the character's story is prominently explored in live-action television, after the character was also portrayed by Robin Lord Taylor on Fox's Gotham. The role was also previously played by Danny DeVito in Batman Returns, and the actor has been open about his excitement for Farrell's rendition of the character.

"I love Colin Farrell. He's one of my favorite actors," DeVito said in a recent interview with Forbes. "I can't wait!"

While the film's marketing has only barely begun to showcase Farrell's version of the character, it's already caught attention for its surprising use of prosthetics — so much so that the actor apparently wasn't recognized on set.

"I've worked with that makeup artist before and it's just incredible," Jeffrey Wright, who plays Commissioner Jim Gordon in the film, explained in an interview with SiriusXM's The Jess Cagle Show last year. "Colin walked on to set one day and I walked right passed him [laughs] I was like 'ok, hey dude what's happening? Where's Colin? Are we going to shoot.' It was, it's pretty remarkable."

This would also be the second potential HBO Max spinoff series to The Batman, with the streamer also developing a series surrounding the Gotham City Police Department. The streamer already has a number of original projects planned around the DC Universe, joining existing shows Doom Patrol, Harley Quinn, Young Justice, and Titans. These include The Suicide Squad spinoff series Peacemaker, DC Super Hero High, DMZ, Justice League Dark, Strange Adventures, Green Lantern and series surrounding John Constantine and Madame Xanadu. On the movie side, the streamer is developing Batgirl, Black Canary, Blue Beetle, and Static Shock.

Cristin Milioti is joining Colin Farrell in “The Batman” spinoff series centered on The Penguin at HBO Max, Variety has learned.

Exact plot details for the series, which is currently titled “The Penguin,” are under wraps. It is believed to take place in the immediate aftermath of the events of “The Batman.” Farrell will reprise the role of the infamous Batman villain, whom he played in the film.

Milioti will star as Sofia Falcone, the daughter of Gotham mob boss Carmine Falcone. John Turturro played Carmine in “The Batman,” with The Penguin serving as his right-hand man.

Sofia was originally introduced in the Batman comic books in the mid-1990s. Milioti will now be the second actress to portray Sofia in a live-action series, with Crystal Reed having played her in the Fox series “Gotham.”

This will now be the second HBO Max series in which Milioti has starred. She previously led the comedy series “Made for Love,” which was canceled after two seasons in June. She also recently starred in the critically-acclaimed Peacock series “The Resort” as well as the film “Palm Springs.” She is also known for starring in the “USS Callister” episode of “Black Mirror” and for her work on the stage.

She is repped by UTA, Untitled Entertainment, and Independent PR.

Variety exclusively reported that Farrell had signed on to star in “The Penguin” in December 2021, with HBO Max officially ordering the show to series in March 2022. Lauren LeFranc serves as writer, executive producer and showrunner.

“The Batman” director Matt Reeves executive produces via 6th & Idaho, while Dylan Clark executive produces via Dylan Clark Productions. Farrell executive produces in addition to starring. Craig Zobel is executive producing and directing the first two episodes. 6th & Idaho’s Daniel Pipski also serves as executive producer with Rafi Croh co-executive producing. Warner Bros. Television is the studio. 6th & Idaho is currently under an overall deal at WBTV. The series is based on characters created for DC by Bob Kane and Bill Finger.

“The Penguin” is one of three spinoffs of “The Batman” in the works at HBO Max at present. Variety exclusively reported that Antonio Campos is set to write a series set in Arkham Asylum, while a series set within the Gotham PD remains in development.

HBO Max’s “The Batman” spinoff series “The Penguin” has cast Clancy Brown in a recurring role, Variety has learned.

Brown joins a cast that includes series lead Colin Farrell, who will reprise the role of Oswald “The Penguin” Cobblepot from “The Batman, as well as Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz, Michael Kelly, Shohreh Aghdashloo, and Deirdre O’Connell.

Brown will appear as Salvatore Maroni, a notorious Gotham City crime boss. The character was referenced repeatedly in “The Batman,” as his arrest by corrupt Gotham officials and the collapse of his criminal empire allowed for Carmine Falcone’s organization to rise. Maroni has previously been portrayed onscreen by actors like David Zayas in “Gotham” at Fox and by Eric Roberts in “The Dark Knight.”

Brown is not completely unknown to the DC universe, as he has repeatedly voiced supervillain Lex Luthor in numerous animated projects and video games over the years. Brown is also well known for voicing Mr. Krabs in the hit Nickelodeon cartoon “Spongebob Squarepants.” In the live-action world, Brown has recently appeared in shows like “Dexter: New Blood” and the film “Promising Young Woman.” He is also known for his roles in films like “The Shawshank Redemption” and “Highlander,” while he will appear in the upcoming film “John Wick: Chapter 4.”

He is repped by CAA and Pop Art Management.

“The Penguin” will consist of eight episodes. The series is said to continue the story of the film. It is believed to take place in the immediate aftermath of the events of “The Batman.” Milioti will star as Sofia Falcone, the daughter of Carmine Falcone.

Lauren LeFranc is the writer, executive producer, and showrunner on “The Penguin.” “The Batman” director Matt Reeves executive produces via 6th & Idaho, while Dylan Clark executive produces via Dylan Clark Productions. Farrell executive produces in addition to starring. Craig Zobel is executive producing and directing the first three episodes. 6th & Idaho’s Daniel Pipski also serves as executive producer, as does Bill Carraro, with Rafi Crohn co-executive producing. Warner Bros. Television is the studio. 6th & Idaho is currently under an overall deal at WBTV. The series is based on characters created for DC by Bob Kane and Bill Finger.