The Penguin feels like a promising entry in the ongoing side-universe stumbling out of Matt Reeves’ The Batman. DC has always been something of a mess on the screen, but they can crank out content when it comes to the Caped Crusader. The Batman created a very interesting version of Gotham to explore. The Penguin will offer a deeper look, but it has to contend with the nightmare that is modern TV distribution. Thankfully, the show just received an upgrade to the coveted HBO Original position.
Everyone loves streaming entertainment. It’s a great way to enjoy all the wild and varied shows and movies that couldn’t fit into a traditional broadcast schedule. Unfortunately, streaming services are often not incredible at marketing the shows they have. Original projects by beloved creators frequently disappear into the aether on streaming services. While big franchise pieces are less likely to vanish without a trace, it still happens. A more traditional TV release guarantees at least a bit of stability and prestige.
How did The Penguin move?
|
Showrunner |
Lauren LeFranc |
|---|---|
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Starring |
Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz |
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Release Date |
September 19, 2024 |
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Episodes |
8 |
The Penguin will be the first spin-off of The Batman. It is the only spin-off project currently in progress, but the people over at HBO Max claim they have a Gotham police procedural and an Arkham Asylum show in mind. The Penguin will be a crime drama centering on the underworld power vacuum left after the events of the 2022 film. The show will hit the screen on September 19, 2024. It was scheduled for a slightly earlier release date, probably only a few months earlier. The 2023 Hollywood strikes pushed the miniseries back a bit, leaving room for a new discussion. The series would have dropped directly onto Max, but the delay gave it a new life.
The Penguin will be released as an HBO Original. It will air on HBO’s television networks starting on September 19th. This is in line with a wider effort from HBO. Warner Bros. Discovery has recently struggled with its streaming efforts. Everyone and their mom saw this coming; rebranding one of the most popular TV institutions into “Max” was never a good idea. The app shift of 2023 seemed to cost them a considerable number of subscribers. The term “Max Original” doesn’t have a great public perception. That’s unfortunate, because there are tons of excellent Max Originals, but it’s also WBD’s fault. They just keep canceling beloved shows and boosting less impressive efforts like Velma. HBO’s good name remains relatively well preserved, leading to the brand applying mostly to quality material.
What is an HBO Original?
The HBO Original brand has a reputation to live up to. Generally, it simply refers to any programming commissioned in whole or in part for direct broadcasting on HBO. Max Originals, by contrast, are created exclusively to drop onto Max’s streaming catalog. Max Originals come in all shapes and sizes. They’ve got kids’ programming, movies, and shows of every genre. HBO Originals tend to be more serious and prestigious in nature. Most of the classic HBO shows fans recall are HBO Originals. The Sopranos, Oz, Six Feet Under, Rome, True Blood, Boardwalk Empire, Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon, True Detective, The Last of Us, The Righteous Gemstones, Euphoria, and many other well-known shows have that branding. WBD made the call to shift several of their upcoming Max Originals across the balance sheet, granting them HBO Original status. The Penguin is a beneficiary of this move. Dune: Prophecy, Welcome to Derry, Lanterns, and the Harry Potter series received the same distinction.
What does this mean for The Penguin?
The HBO Originals move suggests several things. WBD might be choosing to favor their direct TV options, pushing several high-profile projects to a spot they would not have occupied. These projects are all massive franchise pieces. They were likely using them to draw attention to Max, but the idea of saddling them with the HBO name suggests a different kind of application. More specifically, Dune: Prophecy and The Penguin were not guaranteed converts. In June, WBD could neither confirm nor deny whether the shows would receive HBO releases. Eventually, they put aside the existing branding to give both the HBO name. Tying The Penguin to critical content like the Harry Potter show suggests an immense amount of faith in The Penguin. Peacemaker didn’t get that level of support.
The Penguin isn’t out yet, but the promise of an HBO release should offer some seal of quality. It speaks volumes about the series’ tone, fitting easily next to The Sopranos or Boardwalk Empire. It’s unfair to say that there’s anything wrong with Max Originals. Some of the finest shows in their lineup went straight to the streaming service. Sharing a slate with Scavengers Reign should be a badge of honor. It is, for good or for ill, a mark of the studio’s lack of faith in a project. Max Originals are treated far worse than their HBO Original brethren. The Penguin isn’t guaranteed a free ride, but it is in the best position to succeed.
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