AceShowbiz - HBO's "The Penguin", set to premiere on September 19, is generating buzz as it takes a bold step away from Gotham's most iconic hero. The series, which serves as a follow-up to 2022's "The Batman", provides an intimate look at Oswald "Oz" Cobblepot (Colin Farrell) and his ruthless pursuit of power amidst Gotham's mayhem.

In a revealing interview with SFX Magazine, showrunner Lauren LeFranc and executive producer Matt Reeves offered insights into the choice to exclude Robert Pattinson's Batman from the series. "I understand why people's desire would be to have Batman, or to think that unless Batman's in a show or a film then it doesn't have the same punch," LeFranc explained. "To me, I think it packs a different punch. Matt's films are through the lens of the Batman, so you're high up, looking down on the city. It's a different perspective. With Oz, you're in the city streets, you're in the grit and the muck and the grime. He's looking up, wanting to claw his way to the top."

Reeves echoed this perspective, emphasizing that the show remains firmly rooted in Gotham's universe. "I don't feel like it's missing something fundamental," Reeves asserted. "I feel like it's an extension of what is fundamentally there. We know this is the world of Batman. You're going down a different alley. So the spectre of Batman is there. The spectre of the Riddler is there. The spectre of everything that happens in the last movie is there. It informs it. And it's exactly where we begin."

The series picks up right after the events of "The Batman", following Cobblepot as he scrambles for more control over Gotham's underworld. While plot specifics remain under wraps, the show promises to explore Gotham's darker alleys and the raw ambition of its key characters, providing rich, character-driven storytelling.

Aside from Farrell's gripping performance as Oz Cobb, the series will feature a robust cast, including Cristin Milioti as Sofia Falcone, Rhenzy Feliz as Victor Aguilar, and Michael Kelly as Johnny Viti, among others. It's clear that "The Penguin" is building a detailed tapestry of Gotham's criminal underpinnings, setting the stage for more enthralling narratives within Matt Reeves' expanding Batman universe.

As for "The Batman Part II", fans will have to wait until October 2, 2026, due to delays from last year's Hollywood labor strikes. Co-writer Mattson Tomlin has teased a collaborative and high-stakes production process for the sequel, with filming set to begin next year.