“The Penguin” is an ice cold hit.
Per HBO, the spinoff series starring Colin Farrell and Cristin Milioti opened to five.3 million U.S. viewers across all platforms since its debut on Sept. 19. That features repeat airings on HBO in addition to streaming viewership. That puts it above the ultimate season premiere of “Succession,” which drew 4.9 million viewers, and the second season premiere of “The White Lotus,” which drew 4.1 million. It also falls just behind the premiere of “True Detective: Night Country,” which nabbed 5.7 million viewers.
Moreover, the show has landed the most important 4-day audience for a brand new series on Max in every region globally since “The Last of Us” in Jan. 2023.
Farrell reprises his role from “The Batman” within the series, once more playing Gotham City gangster Oswald “Oz” Cobb. The series picks up in the times after the events of “The Batman,” with Oz looking for to seize control of the Gotham underworld in the facility vacuum created by the death of his former boss, Carmine Falcone.
The show has also found plenty of affection with critics, with “The Penguin” currently holding a 94% critical approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. In her review for Variety, Aramide Tinubu wrote, “A masterful examination of criminality, the show is twisted, disturbing and deeply enthralling.”
The forged of the series also includes Rhenzy Feliz, Deirdre O’Connell, Clancy Brown, Carmen Ejogo, and Michael Zegen. Mark Strong portrays Falcone in flashbacks, with John Turturro having played the character in “The Batman.”
Lauren LeFranc is the author, executive producer, and showrunner of “The Penguin.” “The Batman” director Matt Reeves executive produces via sixth & Idaho, while Dylan Clark executive produces via Dylan Clark Productions. Farrell executive produces along with starring. Craig Zobel is executive producing and directing the primary three episodes. sixth & Idaho’s Daniel Pipski also serves as executive producer, as does Bill Carraro, with Rafi Crohn co-executive producing.
