‘The Batman’ spinoff series focused on the rise of Penguin

A spin-off series for The Batman focusing on Penguin is in development for HBO Max.

The series will follow Oswald Cobblepot’s rise to power as the Gotham City crime-boss known as the Penguin.

The Penguin is one of Batman’s oldest villains, making his first appearance in Detective Comics #58 (1941). The character is known for using a weaponized umbrella and serving as a crime-boss from his Iceberg Lounge in Gotham City.

Colin Firth will portray the Penguin in The Batman, but, according to Variety, has yet to confirm if he is involved in the spin-off series. Although the series is still in early stages of development, Lauren LeFranc is set to write. LeFranc is known for her work on Impulse, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Chuck.

This is the second spin-off of Matt Reeves’ The Batman, the first reportedly following James Gordon and the Gotham City Police Department. The series will be set a year before the events in The Batman when the hero first makes his appearance in Gotham City. While it is still unclear if Robert Pattinson will make an appearance in the show, it will build on the film’s examination of the anatomy of corruption in Gotham City, Variety reported.

The Batman releases in theaters March 4, 2022.