The Penguin Season 2 Is Now Looking A Lot More Likely

Published Nov 14, 2026, 8:30 AM EST

Kyle is a senior writer at ScreenRant and has been part of the team for over two years. Having led coverage on The Walking Dead projects alongside Rick & Morty, Kyle is well versed in numerous genres.

Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Kyle is a passionate journalist who has a keen interest in TV and film. He has six years of experience studying journalism including a HND in Practical Journalism and a BA Honours in Journalism, Media and Communication and History. Alongside his love for TV and film, Kyle enjoys video games, football and Formula 1.

After Matt Reeves' The Batman dropped in 2022, news that HBO was developing The Penguin naturally got people excited about seeing more of this universe, but even those with the highest expectations were left blown away by the spinoff. Not only did it perfectly expand on the groundwork laid by the movie, but it gave us one of the best crime dramas of the decade.

Despite Robert Pattinson's Batman being absent from the show, The Penguin still proved to be a bona fide hit, as it fleshed out Oz's character in the best way possible. He was more of a tertiary villain in The Batman, and the limited series delved more into his opportunistic nature by presenting him as a charming and cunning outlaw initially, before flaunting just how ruthless he really is.

The overall performance was helped by The Penguin having one of HBO's best casts ever. Colin Farrell naturally shone in the leading role, but Cristin Milioti also swept up awards for her stunning performance as Sofia Falcone, while Rhenzy Feliz had a true breakout part as Vic, Oz's ambitious protégé.

It was arguably a flawless show that made Matt Reeves' universe infinitely more interesting, and with The Penguin being HBO's best crime thriller in years, fans eagerly wanted more. Sadly, this didn't look likely though, as most of the main plot lines were tied up, with the lingering ones being left intentionally open to explore in future The Batman movies.

However, it's not quite the end of The Penguin's era just yet, as season 2 just got closer than ever before. Alongside the DCU's recent upheaval leaving a lot of questions about what projects will come next, Colin Farrell is sounding more open to the idea of returning than he did previously, meaning DC's hit show may not be dead yet.

Colin Farrell Is Sounding More Positive Than Ever About The Penguin Season 2

Although Oz has been one of Farrell's best roles, playing the Penguin is also incredibly taxing, as not only is the character a complex, sinister gangster, the part also requires plenty of makeup and prosthetics. Such a challenging role is understandably something most actors wouldn't want to revisit over and over again, with Farrell himself being rather cautious about overcommitting to The Penguin.

Fortunately, his tune has changed for the better recently, as Farrell provided an update on The Penguin season 2 prospects amid the big DC restructure, claiming, "I’d love to do a second season. There’s definitely a conversation to be had about doing a second season."

While this isn't a promise that he'll definitely be back, it's encouraging that the actor has the itch to return to this world that still has so much to offer. Season 1 left Oz's journey in a great place, as he's now one of the most powerful players in Gotham's criminal underworld, meaning he'll be a big problem going forward.

It looked like this could play directly into the next Batman film, but with Farrell's Penguin seemingly playing a small role in The Batman 2, a new season of the HBO show feels necessary. Giving Oz such a compelling arc only to sideline him would be strange, and while there are always opportunities for him to appear in The Batman Part III should it happen, The Penguin season 2 feels like a safer bet.

Now that Farrell seems keen on adding another chapter to this story, with Cristin Milioti also expressing interest in a return, The Penguin season 2 is looking more and more likely, which should only be helped by the uncertainty of the DCU.

The DCU's Upheaval Might Help The Penguin's Season 2 Chances

They may not be gone completely, but losing James Gunn and Peter Safran from their leadership positions at DC is undoubtedly a big loss, as their vision for the DCU looked incredibly promising and had plenty of great projects in a short period. However, the studio shake-up may open the door even wider to The Penguin's return, as this transition period needs a surefire hit.

Understandably, many fans were left frustrated and shocked at the news about Gunn and Safran, believing they were the men to lead the DCU going forward. As a result, this new era will be desperate for a quick win to try and get audiences back on side, and greenlighting season 2 of The Penguin may be the smartest move they can make, especially since there is more story to tell.

The show could've still been renewed under Gunn's regime, and many have rightfully pointed out that his enthusiasm and patience with Matt Reeves' Batman universe was crucial to its success. That said, there will now be less focus on building up the DCU as intrinsically as James Gunn did, which could be great news for standalone projects.

With reports suggesting the new leadership is already looking at fast-tracking the Justice League's arrival, they'll need a few projects in the meantime, making The Penguin season 2 a no-brainer. Having Matt Reeves' The Batman Part II and The Penguin season 2 release in the coming years will even attract the interest of those skeptical about the DCU's future, potentially winning them over just in time.

Of course, there's every chance the new DC hierarchy simply wants to start all over again, including getting rid of the Matt Reeves universe after the next Batman movie. However, with so much uncertainty about the future, reviving The Penguin seems like the best move Skydance can make, and mixed with Colin Farrell's comments, season 2 has never felt closer.