The Penguinfeels like a promising entry in the ongoing side-universe stumbling out of Matt Reeves’The Batman. DC has always been something of a mess on the screen, but they can crank out content when it comes to the Caped Crusader.The Batmancreated a very interesting version of Gotham to explore.The Penguinwill offer a deeper look, but it has to contend with the nightmare that is modern TV distribution. Thankfully, the show just received an upgrade to the coveted HBO Original position.
Everyone loves streaming entertainment. It’s a great way to enjoy all the wild and varied shows and movies that couldn’t fit into a traditional broadcast schedule. Unfortunately, streaming services are often not incredible at marketing the shows they have.Original projects by beloved creatorsfrequently disappear into the aether on streaming services. While big franchise pieces are less likely to vanish without a trace, it still happens. A more traditional TV release guarantees at least a bit of stability and prestige.
Episodes
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The Penguinwill be the first spin-off ofThe Batman. It is the only spin-off project currently in progress, but the people over at HBO Max claim they havea Gotham police proceduraland an Arkham Asylum show in mind.The Penguinwill be a crime drama centering on the underworld power vacuum left after the events of the 2022 film. The show will hit the screen on June 09, 2025. It was scheduled for a slightly earlier release date, probably only a few months earlier. The 2023 Hollywood strikes pushed the miniseries back a bit, leaving room for a new discussion. The series would have dropped directly onto Max, but the delay gave it a new life.
What is an HBO Original?
The HBO Original brand has a reputation to live up to. Generally, it simply refers to any programming commissioned in whole or in part for direct broadcasting on HBO.Max Originals, by contrast, are created exclusively to drop onto Max’s streaming catalog. Max Originals come in all shapes and sizes. They’ve got kids' programming, movies, and shows of every genre. HBO Originals tend to be more serious and prestigious in nature. Most of the classic HBO shows fans recall are HBO Originals.The Sopranos, Oz, Six Feet Under, Rome, True Blood, Boardwalk Empire, Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon, True Detective, The Last of Us, The Righteous Gemstones, Euphoria, and many other well-known shows have that branding. WBD made the call to shift several of their upcoming Max Originals across the balance sheet, granting them HBO Original status.The Penguinis a beneficiary of this move.Dune: Prophecy,Welcome to Derry,Lanterns, andtheHarry Potterseriesreceived the same distinction.
What does this mean forThe Penguin?
The HBO Originals move suggests several things.WBD might be choosingto favor their direct TV options, pushing several high-profile projects to a spot they would not have occupied. These projects are all massive franchise pieces. They were likely using them to draw attention to Max, but the idea of saddling them with the HBO name suggests a different kind of application. More specifically,Dune: ProphecyandThe Penguinwere not guaranteed converts. In June, WBD could neither confirm nor deny whether the shows would receive HBO releases. Eventually, they put aside the existing branding to give both the HBO name. TyingThe Penguinto critical content like theHarry Pottershow suggests an immense amount of faith inThe Penguin.Peacemakerdidn’t get thatlevel of support.
The Penguinisn’t out yet, but the promise of an HBO release should offer some seal of quality. It speaks volumes about the series' tone, fitting easily next toThe SopranosorBoardwalk Empire. It’s unfair to say that there’s anything wrong with Max Originals. Some of the finest shows in their lineup went straight to the streaming service. Sharing aslate withScavengers Reignshould be a badge of honor. It is, for good or for ill, a mark of the studio’s lack of faith in a project. Max Originals are treated far worse than their HBO Original brethren.The Penguinisn’t guaranteed a free ride, but it is in the best position to succeed.
