The DC universe is about to obtain another new title, following HBO’s announcement that Gotham’s favorite botanical biochemist is finally getting her own live-action spotlight. According to Comicbook, a new live-action Poison Ivy series is currently in the works and will include The Penguin showrunner, Lauren LeFranc (Hemlock Groove, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), at the helm to narrate the humble beginnings of Dr. Pamela Lillian Isley and her transition into becoming the nature-loving villain.
Poison Ivy made her live-action cinematic debut in Joel Schumacher’s 1997 film Batman & Robin, where she was portrayed with campy extravagance by Uma Thurman (Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill). Over the decades, the character has undergone significant evolution across various media, culminating in her prominent animated role in Max’s Harley Quinn, where she is voiced with grounded humor and depth by Lake Bell (No Escape, Shot Caller).
Poison Ivy DC Series in the Works at HBO With ‘The Penguin’ Exec Lauren LeFranc https://t.co/EJ2Z8jLlCi https://t.co/Z8TzkG3THn
— Variety (@Variety) October 21, 2026
Reported by Comicbook, the series that will be under LeFranc’s tutelage will not be a part of The Batman crime saga, but instead will be constructed within James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy, Suicide Squad) and Peter Safran’s (Lantern, Supergirl) main DC Universe. Placing the series in Gunn’s overarching DCU gives the writers complete control to release their creative freedom into perfecting portraying the plant-based villain and manifest her comic accurate power which includes chlorokinesis, pheromone mind control and many others.
Stated by Comicbook, there is still a major narrative risk at play. With James Gunn’s upcoming Batman: The Brave and the Bold set to introduce a brand-new iteration of the Caped Crusader, this standalone villain origin runs the risk of becoming part of the Elseworlds series, a category of standalone stories that are defined as existing outside the main DC Universe continuity.
As of right now, there is limited information on what the plot of the live-action Poison Ivy will entail, though it is expected to delve more into the lore of the iconic villainess and broaden the scope of future narratives.