When The Penguin hit HBO, it didn’t just blend into the crowd — it strutted in with a thick Gotham accent and a trench coat full of secrets. A gritty spin-off from The Batman universe, the show zoomed in on Oz Cobb, the sneaky schemer better known as Penguin, and gave fans a front-row seat to his climb through Gotham’s shady crime world. Colin Farrell absolutely disappeared into the role, making the entire dark, bloody, and chaotic mess feel raw and addictive.
Season 1 had everything — betrayal, ambition, power plays — and viewers couldn’t look away. Even though the first season wrapped up last year, whispers about a second one just won’t stop. People want more — more Oz, more chaos, more Gotham. So far, HBO hasn’t confirmed anything, but speculation is alive and kicking. Whether it returns or not, The Penguin has definitely left its mark as one of the most intense crime stories on TV.
Is there a release date yet for The Penguin Season 2?
Let’s get one thing out of the way — The Penguin Season 2 hasn’t been officially confirmed. But it also hasn’t been ruled out, which leaves the door wide open. The first season made a strong impression. Critics loved it. Audiences were hooked. And the storytelling felt too layered and juicy to just end there. So naturally, fans are clinging to hope.
That being said, Colin Farrell — the man who brought the wild and magnetic Oz Cobb to life — isn’t exactly bubbling with hope about what’s next. He hasn’t ruled out the idea of returning to Oz’s dark world, but he’s also pointed out how heavy things got by the end of Season 1. Let’s be real — Oz crossed some serious lines, from brutally killing Victor Aguilar to leaving his own mother unresponsive. So yeah, turning him into any kind of “hero,” even the messy antihero kind, is going to be one tough sell. He said (via The Hollywood Reporter),
I certainly think it makes a second season more difficult. Killing Vic is a very hard thing to claw back from. It’s not impossible, but it’s a tougher hill to climb.
Farrell has opened up about how demanding the role was on him physically. That famous Penguin waddle? It wasn’t just for show. He actually wore a brace to reflect Oz’s clubbed foot, and it ended up messing with his hips and alignment. He said in the interview,
I wasn’t as smart as I could have been, which is not the first time I’ve said that in relation to work or life. I did have some issues with my hips for a while, and my pelvis was a bit out of line, but I sorted it out afterward.
Although he’s since recovered, that commitment clearly came at a price, which might factor into whether he’s ready to throw himself back into the role.
So, while the buzz is real and the love for the show is obvious, there’s no official date or even a solid confirmation that it’s happening. But that little crack in the door is still there, and fans are keeping an eye on it.
Which cast members could return if there’s a The Penguin season 2?
If Season 2 does happen, it’ll be working with a much smaller cast than before, mainly because most of them didn’t make it out of the finale alive. There are some key characters who are still breathing, and their return could shape whatever comes next.
Colin Farrell would obviously be back as Oz Cobb. Well, that’s a no-brainer — you can’t have The Penguin without the Penguin himself! And yep, Deirdre O’Connell also made her mark as Oz’s mother, Francis Cobb. She’s technically still alive, though she’s in a vegetative state after her stroke. Since Oz didn’t grant her wish to end her life if that happened, there’s a chance we’ll see her again, though likely in a silent, haunting presence rather than anything plot-driving.
Victor Aguilar, played by Rhenzy Feliz, is sadly out of the picture. His death was a major emotional blow in the finale, and it’s hard to see the story continuing without the lingering guilt from that moment weighing down on Oz.
Cristin Milioti’s Sofia Gigante, however, could still be in play. She landed back in Arkham, and if her partner in crime, Dr. Julian Rush (Theo Rossi), is really working there again, that could mean an escape plot is in the works, which would be the perfect setup for another violent clash with Oz.
And speaking of interesting ties, The Penguin made a subtle move by linking Sofia and Selina Kyle as sisters. That opens the door for Zoë Kravitz to potentially pop in as Catwoman. It’s not official yet, but if it happens, it’s sure to add a spicy twist!
Carmen Ejogo’s Eve Karlo — Oz’s girlfriend — is still around too, though her relationship with Oz took a seriously weird turn with all those Oedipal undertones. If she returns, expect her role to be even more complicated.
Then there are the new power players emerging from Gotham’s criminal shadows. Robert Lee Leng’s Link Tsai was set up as someone to watch, and Rhys Coiro’s councilman Sebastian Hady was a surprise power pawn in Oz’s game. With Oz using him to clear his name, he might just return as either an ally or a liability, depending on how that political dance plays out.
Everyone else? Pretty much gone. Season 2 would likely need some fresh faces — maybe a new villain, maybe more corrupt officials, maybe someone from Bruce Wayne’s orbit to shake things up even more.
What could be the story of The Penguin season 2?
If Season 2 comes to life, there’s a good chance it’ll show Oz Cobb fully stepping into his empire. He’s no longer just climbing the ladder — he’s already on top. That opens up plenty of dark, dramatic possibilities.
But as anyone in Gotham knows, staying on top is harder than getting there. With enemies around every corner, Oz could face backlash from more than just rival gangsters. The Riddler’s cult-like followers are still out there, and considering their obsession with purging corruption, Oz and his shady ties to Councilman Hady might make him their next target.
And let’s not forget the Batman factor. Robert Pattinson’s Caped Crusader was a distant presence in Season 1, but always looming. The final shot teased that Jim Gordon suspects he’s still active. If that thread gets tugged in Season 2, there’s potential for a very complicated dynamic between Batman and Penguin — possibly even a reluctant alliance if a bigger threat enters the scene.
That being said, the show proved it doesn’t need Batman to thrive. In fact, part of its strength came from showing Gotham’s underworld on its own terms. So, unless there’s a really compelling reason, throwing Bruce Wayne into the mix could disrupt the chaos the show does so well.
It’s also worth remembering that The Penguin plays in the same sandbox as The Batman film series. With The Batman Part II on the way, the timelines may intersect or overlap. If Penguin ends up crossing paths with Batman there, it could reshape where Season 2 goes — or even if it happens at all.
For now, everything’s in limbo. The show hasn’t been given the green light, but there’s been no firm “no” either. That keeps fans in this weird space of hoping, theorizing, and rewatching Oz’s rise while waiting for news. If HBO does decide to roll the dice again, there’s no shortage of story left to tell — and no shortage of people ready to watch it play out.
You can stream The Penguin Season 1 now on HBO Max.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
