HBO Unveils ‘The Penguin’ Fan Events Around New York City — Everything We Know So Far

Colin Farrell in 'The Penguin'
Max

After meeting Robert Pattinson‘s caped crusader in 2022’s The Batman, HBO is preparing for the launch of its long-awaited spinoff series The Penguin, which centers on Colin Farrell‘s big bad Oz Cobb who was introduced in the film.

Below, we’re breaking down everything you need to know about the DC Studios limited series which continues The Batman crime saga spawned by Matt Reeves‘ 2022 film. Scroll down to learn more about the premiere date, episode count, trailer, photos, and more.

When Will The Penguin Premiere on Max?

The Penguin will officially premiere on Thursday, September 19, 2024, on HBO and Max. The premiere date announcement was made during the show’s San Diego Comic-Con panel which featured Farrell and more. It has since been revealed that following the show’s debut on September 19th, the premiere episode will air multiple times, including on Sunday, September 22 at 9pm ET/PT. From that point forward, new episodes from the show’s run will premiere each Sunday at 9pm ET/PT on HBO and Max, with Episode 2 arriving September 29.

Colin Firth as Oz in 'The Penguin'

HBO

Who Will Star in The Penguin?

As mentioned, above, Farrell will reprise his transformative role as Oz Cobb, the man in charge of the Iceberg Lounge in Gotham. Joining him for the crime drama are stars Cristin Milioti as Sofia Falcone, Rhenzy Feliz as Victor Aguilar, Michael Kelly as Johnny Viti, Shohreh Aghdashloo as Nadia Maroni, Deirdre O’Connell as Francis Cobb, Clancy Brown as Salvatore Maroni, James Madio as Milos Grapa, Scott Cohen as Luca Falcone, Michael Zegen as Alberto Falcone, Carmen Ejogo as Eve Karlo, and Theo Rossi as Dr. Julian Rush.

Is There a Trailer for The Penguin?

Max unveiled a new teaser for the series, in June 2024, which offered a closer glimpse at the story set to unfold, revealing several of the characters and cast members mentioned, above. Since then, the official trailer has arrived and its submerging viewers into the chaos of Gotham. Check it out here:

What Is The Penguin About?

Based on teasers and the series creatives, the story picks up shortly after the end of The Batman with Gotham underwater and Oz grasping for power in the wake of Carmine Falcone’s (John Turturro) death. But will his power play ruffle some feathers? It seems so as Miliot’s Sofia appears to be one of his biggest antagonists. Only time will tell for certain as no official logline has been released quite yet.

How Many Episodes Will The Penguin Have?

The limited series will run for eight episodes when it arrives this fall. After the premiere on September 19th, new episodes will air each Sunday at 9pm ET/PT on HBO and Max.

How Can Fans Celebrate The Penguin‘s Premiere?

Ahead of the show’s HBO debut, fans can get in on the fun in New York City as The Penguin‘s Gotham takes over. Beginning Monday, September 9th and Tuesday, September 10th, fans can snag some Gotham Goods merchandise from trucks around six locations in Manhattan. To unlock Penguin-themed gear, fans can follow @TheBatman on social media for info. Trucks with supplies are available daily from 2pm – 9pm on a first-come, first-served basis. The locations and dates are as follows:

Monday, September 9

Location 1: 26th St. between Madison Ave and 5th Ave.
Hours: 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Location 2: 11 E Houston St. between Broadway and Crosby.
Hours: 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Location 3: West Broadway between Leonard and Franklin St.
Hours: 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Tuesday, September 10

Location 4: 100 Gansevoort St.
Hours: 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Location 5: 6th Ave between Spring St and Broome St.
Hours: 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Location 6: Canal Street between Broadway and Mercer.
Hours: 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

From Thursday, September 12th through Sunday, September 22nd, The Penguin will have a booth at the Feast of San Gennaro (195 Grand Street, New York, NY 10013), offering exclusive Penguin-themed merch and Gotham-inspired street food. Additionally, The Penguin’s purple Maserati will be on display next to the booth. Max is also partnering with Alamo Drafthouse for early screenings of the first episode at eight nationwide locations beginning September 12th. Additionally, Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Lower Manhattan (28 Liberty St, Suite SC301, New York, NY 10005) will host a special screening and Q&A session with Craig Zobel, Lauren LeFranc, and Dylan Clark.

From Friday, September 13th to Friday, September 20th, Max is partnering with local New York establishments to offer secret menu items, signature swag, and late-night specials, see the spots, below:

Emillio’s Ballato

Location: 55 E Houston St, New York, NY 10012
Dates: Friday, September 13 – Saturday, September 14
Hours: Friday-Saturday: 12:00 – 4:00 p.m. | 5:00 – 11:30 p.m.

Scarr’s Pizza

Location: 35 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002
Dates: Sunday, September 15 – Monday, September 16
Hours: 12:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.

The Ocky Way Bodega

Location: 603 Clinton St, Brooklyn, NY 11231
Dates: Tuesday, September 17 – Wednesday, September 18
Hours: Open 24 hours

Casa Magazines

Location: 22 8th Avenue, New York, NY 10014
Dates: Thursday, September 19 – Friday, September 20
Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.

On Monday, September 16th through Sunday, September 22nd, in collaboration with MAP360 Collective, The Penguin will take over iconic Gotham-branded New York City establishments including Gotham Burger Social Club, Gotham West Market, Gotham City Barbershop, and Gotham Wine & Liquors where storefronts will be transformed.

On Tuesday, September 17th, Max is partnering with NYC Tourism to light up landmarks in Oz’s signature plum purple, including the Empire State Building, Javits Center, One Bryant Park, One World Trade Center, and Pier 17. And don’t miss your chance to pick up a special print edition of Gotham Gazette on Thursday, September 19th. Locations and times are as follows:

Grand Central Station (Time: 7:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.), Times Square (Time: 7:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.), Penn Station (Time: 7:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
), Casa Magazines (Time: 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
), and San Gennaro Festival (Time: 4:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
).

Wrapping things up on Sunday, September 22nd in celebration of Latino Heritage Month, Max and Pa’lante! will take over the New York Latino Film Festival Block Party at Dyckman Plaza (238-224 Dyckman St, New York, NY 10034) from 2 pm to 10 pm to mark the premiere week’s grand finale. Attendees can indulge in Penguin-themed cocktails, specialty menu items, and other fun experiences. To RSVP for the event, learn more here.

And don’t fret if you’re not in New York City, Max is bringing the Iceberg Lounge to various locations around France, Spain, The Netherlands, and Thailand with Oz’s Maserati set to cruise the streets of São Paulo, Paris, and other major cities.

Who Is Making The Penguin?

The series has been developed by showrunner Lauren LeFranc who executive produces the project with Reeves, Farrell, director Craig Zobel, Bill Carraro, and Daniel Pipski. Based on characters from DC created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger, The Penguin is produced by Reeves’ 6th & Idaho Productions and Dylan Clark Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television.

The Penguin, Series Premiere, Thursday, September 19, 9pm ET/PT, HBO and Max