Today HBO Max canceled the last of its live-action DC Comics scripted original series. It was announced that the Batman prequel series Pennyworth has been canceled, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The series’s third season aired its season finale, now the series finale, in November of 2022.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the show was created by Bruno Heller (Gotham, The Mentalist), who also served as the showrunner. Pennyworth was initially developed for MGM’s streaming service. Later, in an attempt to reduce programming costs, the show was sold to HBO Max where it joined fellow DC series Titans and Doom Patrol. After the cancellation of the show, MGM still has the option to air the third season, but it is an unlikely case even with the reduced licensing fee.
The cancellation of the butler-led show comes days after HBO Max announced that fellow DC Comics series Doom Patrol and Titans were also canceled. Pennyworth’s axing comes after the announcement made by DC Comics co-CEO James Gunn (Peacemaker, The Suicide Squad) about the new DC Universe. This new universe plans to follow the model of the interconnected projects that were first showcased by the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the DC universe created in The CW by Greg Berlanti (Supergirl, The Flash).
The announcement also included the reveal of the new shows that will be featured in the first chapter of the new DC Universe. The new shows being developed are Paradise Lost, Wonder Women prequel; Waller, a Peacemaker spinoff that will follow Amanda Waller, played by Viola Davis (The Woman King, How to Get Away with Murder); Lanterns, Green Lantern-inspired series set in Earth; Booster Gold; and Creature Commandos, an animated series.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, now that Pennyworth has been canceled alongside Titans and Doom Patrol, all that remains on HBO Max from the pre-Gunn/Safran DC series is the animated hit, Harley Quinn. The animated raunchy show has already been renewed for fourth season and is set to premiere a Valentine’s Day special in the following weeks. Harley Quinn has also inspired a spinoff, Noonan’s, which is still being developed.
Pennyworth follows Alfred Pennyworth, played by Jack Bannon (The Imitation Game, Medici), and gives the audience an insight into the origin story of the famous butler and his life before Batman. The show follows the former special forces soldier and his life in London before he begins working for Thomas Wayne, played by Ben Aldridge (Our Girl, Knock at the Cabin). The cast also includes Dorothy Atkinson (Stonehouse, Mum) as Mary Pennyworth, Alfred’s mother; Ian Puleston-Davies (Tin Star, The Bay) plays Arthur Pennyworth, Alfred’s father; and Emma Paetz (Boys from County Hell, Gentleman Jack) stars as Martha Kane, the future Mrs. Wayne.
Seasons one through three of Pennyworth are available to stream on HBO Max. All seasons of Titans, Doom Patrol, and Harley Quinn are also available to watch on the platform.