Changes in The Penguin Release Schedule Explained After First Episode Airs

The limited series The Penguin made its debut on HBO on September 19, 2024. Created by Lauren LeFranc, this series serves as a spin-off from Matt Reeves’s 2022 feature film The Batman. This eight-episode show centers around the DC Comics character Oswald Cobblepot, also known as the Penguin, with Colin Farrell reprising his role. The executive producers of the series include Matt Reeves, Lauren LeFranc, Daniel Pipski, Dylan Clark, and Bill Carraro, among others.

Set just one week after the film’s events, the series chronicles the main character’s transformation from a mid-level mobster to the crime overlord of Gotham City.

According to Rotten Tomatoes, the show’s synopsis reads:

“The next chapter in The Batman saga, this crime drama follows Oz Cobb’s quest for power and control in Gotham City.”

It’s important to note that there has been a change in the release schedule for The Penguin. Starting with the second episode, the series will now air on Sundays at 9 p.m.

Change in The Penguin’s Release Schedule: Explained

A still from the popular HBO series (Image via X/@The Penguin)

The Penguin premiered with the episode “After Hours”on Thursday, September 19, 2024, at 9 p.m. on both HBO and Max. The debut episode received positive reviews and attracted over 242,000 viewers in the U.S.

The second episode, titled “Inside Man,”is set to air ten days later on Sunday, September 29, 2024, at 9 p.m. ET (6 p.m. PT), with subsequent episodes following weekly on Sunday evenings until the season finale on November 10, 2024.

The Sunday 9 p.m. time slot is a prestigious slot for the cable network, historically associated with acclaimed series such as The Sopranos, Six Feet Under, The Wire, and Sex and the City. This coveted timing is designed to attract a larger audience before the workweek begins, enhancing viewership potential.

The transition of The Penguin to a Sunday airing showcases HBO’s confidence that the show will achieve similar success to its revered predecessors. Originally commissioned as a Max Original, its shift to an HBO series suggests the creators’ intention to broaden the show’s audience reach, further supported by the advantageous Sunday time slot.

Plot Summary of The Penguin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfJG6IiA_s8

The Penguin | Official Trailer | Max (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfJG6IiA_s8)

The Penguin delves into Oswald Cobblepot’s ambitions for dominance over Gotham City’s criminal elite after the demise of his boss Carmine Falcone. His challenges include confronting Sofia Falcone (Cristin Milioti), the daughter of his former boss who has recently been released from Arkham Asylum.

In addition to Sofia, Cobblepot must navigate the treacherous waters of Gotham’s underworld, contending with other powerful contenders like Sal Maroni and Alberto Falcone, all vying for the title of Gotham’s next crime lord.