SciFiAndTvTalk

HBO Max Orders Limited Drama Series The Penguin Starring Colin Farrell

HBO Max has given a straight-to-series order to The Penguin (working title), a limited series starring Colin Farrell in the title role. The DC drama expands upon the world filmmaker Matt Reeves has created for Warner Bros. Pictures’ global blockbuster The Batman and centers on the character played by Farrell in the film.

The series is executive produced by Matt Reeves, Dylan Clark, Colin Farrell, and Lauren LeFranc, who writes and serves as showrunner. Based on characters created for DC by Bob Kane with Bill Finger, The Penguin is produced by Reeves’ 6th & Idaho Productions and Dylan Clark Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television, where Reeves and 6th & Idaho are under an overall deal. 6th & Idaho’s Daniel Pipski and Adam Kassan also serve as executive producers, and Rafi Crohn is co-executive producer.

Sarah Aubrey, Head of Original Content, HBO Max says, “We are thrilled to bring audiences a new version of this iconic DC character that they have never seen before. It is incredible to be working with Matt, Dylan and Lauren on continuing this story and to see Colin take his already exceptional performance in The Batman to the next level."

Adds Matt Reeves, “Colin exploded off the screen as the Penguin in The Batman, and having the chance to thoroughly explore the inner life of that character on HBO Max is an absolute thrill.  Dylan and I are so excited to work with Lauren in continuing Oz’s story as he grabs violently for power in Gotham.”

Lauren LeFranc continues, “I have long been a fan of the world of The Batman, and Matt’s film is such a powerful and bold entry into the canon. I am excited and humbled to continue telling stories in the grimy world of Gotham City - and what better excuse to channel my inner villain than to tell the story of Oswald Cobblepot? I am thrilled to work with Colin, Matt, Dylan, 6th & Idaho, Warners, and HBO Max as we work to bring this story to the screen.”

Colin Farrell says, “The world that Matt Reeves created for The Batman is one that warrants a deeper gaze through the eyes of Oswald Cobblepot. I couldn’t be more excited about continuing this exploration of Oz as he rises through the darkened ranks to become The Penguin. Will be good to get him back on the streets of Gotham for a little madness and a little mayhem.”

DMZ Coming This Month (HBO Max)

Max Original DMZ debuts Thursday, March 17th with all four episodes of the limited series based on the DC graphic novel of the same name. DMZ leaps off the pages of the DC acclaimed graphic novel into the visual landscape of a dangerous and distorted Manhattan as one woman navigates a demilitarized zone in a harrowing quest to find her lost son. Check out the trailer below!

DMZ stars Rosario Dawson, Benjamin Bratt, Hoon Lee, Freddy Miyares, Jordan Preston Carter and Venus Ariel. Guest cast includes Rutina Wesley, Nora Dunn, Jade Wu, Rey Gallegos, Mamie Gummer, Agam Darshi, Juani Feliz and Henry G. Sanders. Emmy nominee Roberto Patino, Emmy winner/Oscar nominee Ava DuVernay, and ARRAY Filmworks’ Paul Garnes are executive producers of DMZ, which was created for television by Roberto Patino, based on the comic book series published by DC written by Brian Wood and illustrated by Riccardo Burchielli. Patino serves as showrunner and wrote the first episode, which was directed by DuVernay. Acclaimed filmmaker Ernest Dickerson directs and executive produces three episodes. Emmy winner Carly Wray is co-executive producer. DMZ is produced by DuVernay’s ARRAY Filmworks in association with Warner Bros. Television.

Isle of the Dead Starring Lauren Cohan and Jeffrey Dean Morgan Greenlit For 2023 (AMC)

AMC Networks today announced that it has greenlit a new series set in The Walking Dead universe, starring Lauren Cohan and Jeffrey Dean Morgan. Isle of the Dead envisions the popular Maggie and Negan characters traveling into a post-apocalyptic Manhattan long ago cut off from the mainland.  The crumbling city is filled with the dead and denizens who have made New York City their own world full of anarchy, danger, beauty, and terror.  Set to premiere on AMC+ and AMC in 2023, the first season will consist of six episodes.  Eli Jorné, who has been a writer and co-executive producer on The Walking Dead for multiple seasons and has an overall deal with AMC Studios, will serve as showrunner and executive producer on the series, which is overseen by Scott M. Gimple, chief content officer of The Walking Dead Universe.  Cohan and Morgan will also serve as executive producers.

“This is a very big day for the expanding universe we are building around The Walking Dead,” said Dan McDermott, president of entertainment and AMC Studios for AMC Networks. “It not only adds another compelling series to this collection, it extends our storytelling around two unforgettable characters fans have grown to love, hate or hate and then love in Maggie and Negan, brilliantly inhabited by Lauren and Jeffrey.  It also lets us explore a corner of this universe located on the island of Manhattan, with an iconic skyline that takes on a very different meaning when viewed through the lens of a zombie apocalypse.”

“Eli has created a chaotic, beautiful, grimy madhouse of the dead for Negan, Maggie, and fans of the show eager to discover an unseen and insane world of the TWD universe,” said Gimple. “Lauren and Jeffrey have always been fantastic collaborators and now, we bring that collaboration to the next level with a series that will take these characters to their limits with the world -- and each other.  All of us are thrilled to take you on an all new, all different TWD epic for the ages.” 

Said Cohan:  “I’m thrilled to partner with Dan McDermott and the team at AMC on the next chapter in The Walking Dead Universe.  Maggie is very close to my heart and I’m excited to continue her journey against the iconic backdrop of New York City, alongside my friend and collaborator, Jeffrey Dean Morgan.  Eli Jorné has created something incredibly special and I cannot wait for the fans to see what we have in store for Maggie and Negan.”

Said Morgan: “I’m delighted that Negan and Maggie’s journey continues.  It’s been such a ride walking in Negan’s shoes, I’m beyond excited to continue his journey in New York City with Lauren.  Walkers in an urban setting has always been such a cool image, but 5th Avenue, Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty?  The greatest city in the world??  The backdrop is amazing, but it’s the story that Eli Jorné cooked up that is even better.  Buckle up folks, Isle of the Dead is going to reinvent the TWD universe.  Huge thank you to Dan McDermott, Scott Gimple and AMC for having us back for more… we simply can’t wait.”

The Outlaws - Coming In April (Prime Video)

Today, Prime Video released the official trailer and key art for the first season of The Outlaws, from award-winning writer and director Stephen Merchant (The Office) and Elgin James (Mayans M.C., Lowriders). All six episodes of the Amazon Original series will premiere on Prime Video on Friday, April 1 in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Nordic countries, following an incredibly successful series premiere on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK. Check out the trailer below!

The Outlaws is a comedy thriller about a disparate group of lawbreakers thrown together to complete a community service sentence. Seven strangers from different walks of life are forced to work together to renovate a derelict community center. When one of their number gets dragged into a dangerous world of organized crime, they unite in ways none of them thought possible. The series stars Rhianne Barreto (Hanna, Dixi) as Rani, Gamba Cole (Hanna, Guerrilla) as Christian, Stephen Merchant as Greg, Christopher Walken (Severance, The Deer Hunter) as Frank, Eleanor Tomlinson (Poldark, The Nevers) as Lady Gabriela, Darren Boyd (Trying, Fortitude) as John, Clare Perkins (The Wheel of Time, Suspicion) as Myrna, and Jessica Gunning (Back, Fortitude) as Diane.

The Outlaws is a Big Talk and Four Eyes production co-created by Stephen Merchant—who also serves as an executive producer, director, and writer—and Elgin James. Luke Alkin, Kenton Allen, and Matthew Justice also serve as executive producers for Big Talk. The Outlaws is co-produced by BBC One and Amazon Studios. Global distribution is handled by BBC Studios. The pickup of the show's second season was announced in November.

Apple TV+ Greenlights Metropolis

Apple TV+ has announced a series order for Metropolis, the latest project from award-winning creator, producer, and director Sam Esmail (Mr. Robot, Homecoming, Gaslit), and produced by UCP. Metropolis is a new drama inspired by the seminal Fritz Lang science fiction work of the same name.

 

The series will be written and directed in its entirety by Esmail, who also serves as showrunner. It will be executive produced by Esmail via his overall deal with UCP, and Chad Hamilton. UCP, a division of Universal Studio Group, serves as the studio.

 

The new drama will join the expanding lineup of Apple Originals from today’s most creative storytellers including the acclaimed and recently premiered workplace thriller Severance from director and executive producer Ben Stiller, as well as newly announced series Mrs. American Pie, a new comedy from creator Abe Sylvia and starring Kristen Wiig; Presumed Innocent, a new limited series based on the acclaimed book of the same name that will be reimagined for the screen by master storyteller David E. Kelley; Dear Edward, a new drama based on the novel by by Ann Napolitano that will be written, showrun and executive produced by Jason Katims; The New Look, an upcoming thriller written, executive produced and directed by Todd A. Kessler, and more.