Warning: This article contains spoilers for The Penguin Season 1 finale!
With a gripping finale, The Penguin, HBO’s latest Batman spinoff, leaves fans eager for more as Oswald “Oz” Cobblepot (played by Colin Farrell) secures his place in Gotham’s criminal underworld. However, HBO has not officially confirmed The Penguin Season 2, and rumors of a continuation hang in the balance. The possibilities for The Penguin Season 2, drawing on comments from the show’s creators, cast, and what a continuation might entail.
How The Penguin Finale Sets Up Season 2
The finale of The Penguin left fans with an intense standoff between Oswald Cobblepot and Sofia Gigante (formerly Falcone), played by Cristin Milioti. This season finale sees Cobblepot achieving dominance, while Sofia returns to Arkham, defeated but likely not permanently sidelined. Given Sofia’s complicated connection to Selina Kyle (Catwoman), who left her a letter in the finale, it’s clear that her story still has unexplored depths.
Moreover, Cobblepot’s victory solidifies his position as Gotham’s crime boss, yet his rise to power promises new hurdles. The dark shot of Gotham’s Bat-Signal lighting up in the finale hints at a connection to The Batman sequel, adding suspense to Oz’s storyline. As the series serves as a bridge between The Batman and its 2026 sequel, The Penguin Season 2 could further develop Cobblepot’s backstory, or his story might shift directly to the big screen.
Showrunner and Cast Weigh In on The Penguin Season 2
Lauren LeFranc, the showrunner of The Penguin, offered insight into what might be necessary for a second season. She believes any continuation must surpass Season 1’s intensity and complexity. “In order to do a second season, we have to feel like we can top ourselves,” LeFranc told The Direct. “We have to feel like there’s something more there to dig into. I mean, I really care about all these characters, even if they’re terrible people.”
Cristin Milioti, who plays Sofia Gigante, expressed interest in returning, though she acknowledges that this might hinge on The Batman 2. Her character’s relationship with her father, her half-sister Selina, and the various twists in the first season all suggest a future storyline rich with tension and intrigue.
However, lead actor Colin Farrell is more ambivalent. Known for his transformative portrayal of Oswald Cobblepot, Farrell described the grueling nature of the role, from lengthy makeup sessions to the intense mental demands of embodying Gotham’s Penguin. “I loved it, but it got to me a little,” Farrell told Total Film. “By the end of it, I was ready to be done.” Yet Farrell hasn’t ruled out the possibility altogether, stating he’d consider returning if the story had a compelling and original twist.
Factors Influencing The Penguin Season 2
The Penguin was initially framed as a limited series, primarily designed to bridge The Batman and The Batman Part II. As such, a second season may not be essential to the overarching storyline. Director Matt Reeves has expressed an interest in exploring more Batman spin-off series in Gotham City, but he hinted that each should be treated as self-contained stories that add, but do not depend on, one another.
The MAX streaming service’s presentation of The Penguin as “Season 1” instead of a limited series has raised some eyebrows. While circumstantial, this decision might leave room for an additional season if demand persists. Meanwhile, Reeves has clarified that the ultimate goal is to flesh out these characters’ lives in Gotham, providing a seamless narrative arc leading into The Batman Part II. If Farrell’s Oswald Cobblepot returns in The Batman 2, his character might not need further television development, making The Penguin Season 2 unnecessary.
What Lies Ahead for The Penguin
For now, The Penguin Season 2 remains in limbo, but the characters’ unresolved arcs leave the door open. Whether on TV or in theaters, the next chapters in Oswald Cobblepot’s rise in Gotham promise a continuation of the gritty, noirish world that HBO has brought to life so vividly. Until HBO and Matt Reeves confirm future developments, fans can only speculate and hope that their favorite Gotham criminal returns to the screen.
The Penguin is streaming on MAX, with all eight episodes available.
