How HBO’s The Penguin sets the stage for The Batman Part 2 … and can make the sequel even better

HBO

Director Matt Reeves’ The Batman earned captious and commercialized occurrence successful 2022, and while it’ll beryllium sometime earlier nan sequel, HBO’s The Penguin has been filling that void. Showrunner Lauren LeFranc (Chuck, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) has done an awesome occupation of fleshing retired nan characteristic arc of Colin Farrell’s transformative type of Oswald Cobblepot — and Gotham City pinch it.

The HBO miniseries feels for illustration an eager Breaking Bad and Sopranos-like return connected Batman’s sandbox, seemingly mounting nan shape for what fans mightiness spot successful 2026’s The Batman Part II. While nan show undoubtedly adds layers to “Oz’s” emergence arsenic a awesome subordinate successful nan city’s streets, Cristin Milioti’s menacing Sofia Gigante suggests there’s much connected nan sky for Gotham’s criminal underworld.

Note: The pursuing article contains spoilers for HBO’s The Penguin.

The Kingpin of Gotham City

HBO

Despite nan constricted surface time, Colin Farrell’s return connected nan Penguin was magnetic in Matt Reeves’ The Batman. His capacity was transformative much than successful nan costuming sense, unthinkable arsenic it was, arsenic he injected immoderate invited acheronian joke and characteristic into 1 of Gotham City’s grimiest characters. While nan first announcement of nan show’s beingness mightiness person baffled immoderate audiences, The Penguin is different illustration of giving fans thing they didn’t cognize they wanted. 

The Penguin doesn’t skip a hit successful picking up wherever Oswald “Cobb” near disconnected successful The Batman. With 7 of nan miniseries’ 8 episodes released, nan crippled gives meaningful penetration into what nan villain’s domiciled mightiness beryllium successful 2026’s The Batman Part II. Showrunner Lauren LeFranc’s bid leans moreover much connected nan crime-noir ambiance Reeves envisions for this Dark Knight’s universe, showing really Oz navigates nan seedy machinations of Gotham City’s underworld. The Riddler’s devastating violent onslaught has turned nan metropolis into a free-for-all among its organized crime syndicates. But Oz’s marque of cunning seems to beryllium audiences are successful for a Penguin pinch much powerfulness plays to make successful The Batman Part II. As devilishly charismatic arsenic Oz was successful nan 2022 film, nan precocious Carmine Falcone and moreover Batman and Lt. James Gordon treated him for illustration nan butt of a joke. 

He’s acold from it successful HBO’s The Penguin, arsenic he’s already elevated himself from underworld bottom-feeder to a bona fide mob boss. He’s revolutionized nan supplier waste and acquisition pinch “Bliss,” striking astatine an incredibly susceptible Gotham that tin only hardly administer powerfulness crossed nan city. It’s difficult to judge nan metropolis will afloat retrieve by nan clip The Batman Part II begins. This is reminiscent of nan Batman comic book arc No Man’s Land, wherever a class 7.6 earthquake levels nan city, and nan authorities fundamentally declares it a mislaid cause.

It leads to the Caped Crusader’s rogues assemblage wreaking moreover much havoc and carving retired territories for themselves — a business eerily akin to Matt Reeves’ universe. Oz has turned into an underground deed successful Gotham’s crime segment virtually and figuratively, and while fans eagerly expect really The Penguin’s last 2 episodes play out, he could easy beryllium nan city’s kingpin successful nan 2026 movie.

On nan shoulders of Gigantes

HBO

While HBO’ The Penguin has been a gyration for Oz’s spot successful nan world, what’s moreover much awesome is Cristin Milioti’s portrayal of Sofia Gigante. The actress’s capacity made Carmine Falcone’s girl a relentless unit of nature, overcoming years of torture successful Arkham State Hospital aft being framed arsenic nan “Hangman” serial slayer and moreover usurping and disavowing her father’s broadside of nan crime family. With Sofia moreover convincing Falcone’s rival Salvatore Maroni to subordinate forces successful a show of power, nan Gigante leader could person a domiciled to play beyond The Penguin.

With 1 section successful nan HBO miniseries left, fans will request to hold for nan particulate to settee earlier getting a clearer image of nan authorities of organized crime going into The Batman Part II. However, it’s not unreasonable to deliberation nan Gigante crime family could beryllium a awesome underworld subordinate successful nan 2026 film, clashing pinch Oz’s caller enterprise.

Sofia surely has nan consenting ft soldiers and a powerful state successful Maroni to support that premise. That’s assuming, of course, she survives nan events of The Penguin. Regardless, it’s an absorbing alteration from nan villain’s comic book counterpart successful Dark Victory, wherever Sofia is revealed to beryllium nan Hangman slayer retired for revenge against Gotham P.D. figures associated pinch erstwhile District Attorney Harvey Dent (who yet becomes Two-Face).

Gotham’s Dark Knight will person his hands afloat successful 2026

Warner Bros. Pictures

Alternatively, Sofia Gigante could power Gotham’s criminal authorities of play indirectly. Should Oz beryllium nan past 1 opinionated successful nan grisly conflicts to come, nan newly-christened mob leader could sorb immoderate resources nan Gigante crime family leaves behind. This would spot nan Penguin capable nan powerfulness vacuum near by Carmine Falcone successful The Batman, pinch each different lesser crime families forced to play by his rules. Even so, it’s inevitable that The Batman Part II will characteristic a caller awesome antagonist.

Matt Reeves has been touting his Batman canon arsenic an epic crime saga, leaning connected nan much noir elements nan leader is known for. LeFranc’s The Penguin emphasizes this further, opening nan doorway for similarly-themed villains from Batman’s rogues assemblage to participate nan fray. While it would beryllium much breathtaking to spot antagonists pinch little live-action presence, Two-Face would seamlessly fresh nan reside and overarching communicative of The Batman universe.

Warner Bros.

With systemic corruption arsenic a recurring theme, a once-promising DA falling from grace successful Part II isn’t difficult to believe. Even nan famously sadistic Roman Sionis, aka nan “Black Mask,” could beryllium introduced to situation nan underworld level done a quickly increasing Sionis Crime Family. Whichever caller villainous guidance Reeves decides to return successful nan sequel, nan events of The Penguin and its shifting dynamics will pave nan measurement for a caller breed of organized crime for nan Dark Knight to tackle successful The Batman Part II.

New episodes of HBO’s The Penguin premiere connected Sunday nights, and nan first 7 of 8 episodes are disposable to watercourse now connected Max. The Batman is besides streaming, pinch Part II releasing successful theaters connected October 2, 2026.